October 8 -- Feast of Saints Sergius and Bacchus

Imperial Bodyguards, Martyrs, and Same-Sex Couple?

Evidence, says Prof. Boswell

 John Boswell, a Yale historian who died in 1994, posited an interesting hypothesis about these saints.  I haven't read his book Same Sex Unions in Pre-Modern Europe, but apparently he suggests they were a couple, and their prominent place in the imperial court showed the more tolerant attitude toward homosexuality back then.  He suggests that the seventh century icon of them is further evidence of the tolerant attitude; apparently it is a wedding portrait with Jesus in the center as a best man.  At least that's what I read on wikipedia --  other folks have their doubts.  An historian named David Woods says that Sergius and Bacchus didn't even exist, but since they're in Wikipedia and he's not, I'd say it is at least as likely that Prof. Woods doesn't exist. 

modern depiction by Friar Robert Lentz

According to the legend, Sergius and Bacchus were the bodyguards of Emperor Galerius Maximianus.  They kept their Christianity in the closet until Galerius went into the Temple of Zeus for a sacrifice.  They declined to enter the temple with him, even when directly ordered.  They had nothing to offer by way of explanation except the truth, so they were promptly chained together, dressed as women, and paraded through the city.  When the fun in that wore off, they were sent to Barbalissos, a military commander and friend of Sergius.  His orders: convert or kill.

Bacchus died under the abuse, but Sergius survived so long that he was transferred to Resafa and beheaded.  A century later, Resafa was renamed Sergiopolis.  The city is now preserved as archeological ruins in Syria.

The saints used to be the patrons of the Byzantine Army, but the modern Turkish army is so strictly secular that it probably doesn't have patron saints.  Thus, they are patrons without clients and would probably be free to help, especially if your undertaking involves loyalty or defense.