SAN SERGIO-VV-DRAPIA -
† Rusafah Syria in 310 AD
Memory liturgical October 7 (day in which he was martyred)
Drapia Day: First Sunday in October
Holiday-Protector)
Emblem: Sword - Palma (Martyrdom)
Patron: Militia
Martyrology: In the region of Rusafah in Syria near the river Euphrates, Saints Sergius and Bacchus, martyrs.
News:
Saints Sergius and Bacchus, martyrs in Syria. These two holy martyrs
Eastern antiquity had a great reverence in both the East and West, although information about them have little historical value, in any of them are editors in different languages.
Sergius and Bacchus were soldiers of the Legions of the border and occupied a high position in the palace of Maximinus Daia († 313), became Caesar in 305 with the Government of the East, accused by envious enemies as Christians, were brought to the temple of Jupiter, and asked to sacrifice, but they refused, thus being degraded and made to turn to ridicule the streets, dressed as women. The emperor himself made a vain attempt to make them renounce his religious beliefs, then they were sent by Antiochus, Prefect of the Province Syrian Euphrates, because they were killed. In the 'castrum' of Barbalisso, Bacchus was subjected to a cruel scourging, so ruthless that he died under the blows, and his body was left unburied, but at night the Christians gathered by burying it in a nearby cave. Sergio instead was forced to walk with nails stuck in their feet, through the 'Castro' lizards, and Tetrapirgio Rosapha, until at last fortified city was beheaded. He was buried in the same place of his martyrdom and his tomb was erected a small church, and when the persecutions ended, he returned Peace for Christians, next to the 'castrum' of Rosapha was built a large church where the body was moved of the martyr, on the anniversary of his death, October 7. The cult of Sergio was certainly more widespread, sometimes leaving in the shadow of Bacchus, (as happens in Drapia which is celebrated only in the St. Sergius), proving that they were killed within days of each other, were in Syria celebrated on October 1 (Bacchus) and October 7 (Sergio), but then was united in celebration on October 7, in both East and West. To add to the cult of St. Sergio, undoubtedly contributed to the construction of the magnificent basilica in Phrygia, in the fifth century, by Bishop Alexander of Hierapolis; around the temple became a place of pilgrimage and also flocked to which the nomadic tribes in the south of the Euphrates, formed a Emperor Justinian village, called Sergiopoli, enriching many works such as aqueducts and fortresses. The miracles that occurred Sergiopoli, the cult spread to the West, while in all Middle Eastern states, were built many churches dedicated to St. Sergio, the relics because of this spreading, were spread everywhere. Churches also existed in their honor in Rome and Ravenna, in the Byzantine period Sergius and Bacchus were invoked as protectors of the militias and centuries VI to XI were always portrayed as an official with the gold chain of the dignitaries of the court.
Drapia and St. Sergius
The ancient Monastery / Convent of Saints Sergius and Bacchus
Drapia celebrates its patron Saint Sergius the martyr on the first Sunday of October. The community Drapiese a statue of the saint who holds in her hand a faithful reconstruction of the parish church of Drapia symbolizing the protection of the saint of the village. The Cult of the holy Drapia is linked to the ancient monastery of St. Sergius and Bacchus was built in 700 by the Basilian. The Cenobio was half of various holy penitents. Had been provided with garden, a grove of its own source of safe water called "Vardaru. Always a place of pilgrimage by citizens of Tropea, in the year 1222, with a bull of Honorius III, the monastery received a special visit. Two delegates from the apostles, the bishop of Crotone and Abbot Grottaferrata. Next years the monastery was abandoned by the Brazilian because he was going to ruin because of the failure of the subsoil. After being repaired, the bishop of Tropea, Nicholas Acciopaccio, in the year 1421, he handed him over to the Franciscans who refounded as a convent of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. Great-uncle in this period was the guardian of the Convent San Bernardino of Siena. For centuries it was preserved in the Monastery of the Holy shield that he brought with him in his missions. Then the earthquake of February 5, 1783 destroyed so that our days are not just a few ruins, any picture, a statue of Santa Domenica Drapia preserved in the church parish and the beautiful and precious marble tabernacle door with silver transported Caria and set the high altar of the parish church still visible today.
