When Same-Sex Marriage Was A Christian Rite

[NorthCarolina]

Saturday, May 2, 2009

A Kiev art museum contains a curious icon from St. Catherine's Monastery on Mt. Sinai in Israel. It shows two robed Christian saints. Between them is a traditional Roman ‘pronubus’ (a best man), overseeing a wedding. The pronubus is Christ. The married couple are both men.



Is the icon suggesting that a gay "wedding" is being sanctified by Christ himself? The idea seems shocking. But the full answer comes from other early Christian sources about the two men featured in the icon, St. Sergius and St. Bacchus, two Roman soldiers who were Christian martyrs. These two officers in the Roman army incurred the anger of Emperor Maximian when they were exposed as ‘secret Christians’ by refusing to enter a pagan temple. Both were sent to Syria circa 303 CE where Bacchus is thought to have died while being flogged. Sergius survived torture but was later beheaded. Legend says that Bacchus appeared to the dying Sergius as an angel, telling him to be brave because they would soon be reunited in heaven.

While the pairing of saints, particularly in the early Christian church, was not unusual, the association of these two men was regarded as particularly intimate. Severus, the Patriarch of Antioch (AD 512 - 518) explained that, "we should not separate in speech they who were joined in life". This is not a case of simple "adelphopoiia." In the definitive 10th century account of their lives, St. Sergius is openly celebrated as the "sweet companion and lover" of St. Bacchus. Sergius and Bacchus's close relationship has led many modern scholars to believe they were lovers. But the most compelling evidence for this view is that the oldest text of their martyrology, written in New Testament Greek describes them as "erastai,” or "lovers". In other words, they were a male homosexual couple. Their orientation and relationship was not only acknowledged, but it was fully accepted and celebrated by the early Christian church, which was far more tolerant than it is today.

Contrary to myth, Christianity's concept of marriage has not been set in stone since the days of Christ, but has constantly evolved as a concept and ritual.

Prof. John Boswell, the late Chairman of Yale University’s history department, discovered that in addition to heterosexual marriage ceremonies in ancient Christian church liturgical documents, there were also ceremonies called the "Office of Same-Sex Union" (10th and 11th century), and the "Order for Uniting Two Men" (11th and 12th century).

These church rites had all the symbols of a heterosexual marriage: the whole community gathered in a church, a blessing of the couple before the altar was conducted with their right hands joined, holy vows were exchanged, a priest officiatied in the taking of the Eucharist and a wedding feast for the guests was celebrated afterwards. These elements all appear in contemporary illustrations of the holy union of the Byzantine Warrior-Emperor, Basil the First (867-886 CE) and his companion John.

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Article continues here: http://bit.ly/Ekwy1

[Voice for Peace]

1. fascinating!

thanks for posting!

[NorthCarolina]

2. I thought it was quite an interesting read myself, glad you enjoyed it! n/t

[msongs]

3. If you give me 5 cows, 10 chickens, and a bag of clothes, I'll also put up w/ your daughter lol nt

[knitter4democracy]

4. Somehow, I'm not surprised.

We used to have women priests and even bishops, and we had deaconesses until the 1200s or so in the Orthodox Church. There's been a lot of stuff hidden away because of changes in culture and getting the wrong people in charge.

It makes sense: Jesus was very open-minded for a guy of his day. He hung out with women, even saying a few were his best friends, and he talked with Samaritans and Roman soldiers and even tax collectors. I've always thought that He was fine with so much of the so-called hot-button Christian topics these days. Abortion was allowed in his day until quickening (which is anywhere from 10-18 months along), and we have no records that He ever preached against it. Same with homosexuality or any other kind of sexuality. If anything, I've always gotten the impression that He didn't care, just that people not judge and love everyone and that those in power not enslave everyone in arcane laws or money issues.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

7. Nice to see you here, Knitter4democracy

Yes, you are right about orthodoxy having women priests and bishops...and same sex marriage ceremonies. The sexism in the church is why I left--that and the homophobia. You are also right about the wrong people being in charge. So much of female/gay history in the Church has been supressed whilst the homophobes and sexists run riot, cheered on by those like the Anglicans which became Orthodox because their own Church was working to overcome homophobia and sexism. It is sad.

I suspect that much of what the church teaches would not be approved of by Jesus. However, those whose outlook differed from His seem to have won the field for now.

BTW, a big "Christ is Risen" to you!

[knitter4democracy]

10. He is risen indeed!

The bigotry is the biggest problem I have with Christianity in general. I'd leave my church, but I saw plenty in the evangelical church I grew up in, a church that a woman pastor helped found and that always ordained women pastors. You hardly ever hear about her, and good luck to any woman pastor trying to find a job. Don't get me started on the racism, either. As for homophobia, what I saw done at our church's college put me off of them permanently. At least my church now ordains gay men (quietly, true) and doesn't do to them, from what I've heard from priest friends of mine, what was done to my friends.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

12. It's Not As Bad...

as some groups, but it depends on the local bishop...many of whom are deeply closeted and in some cases, deeply self hating gay men. And with all the scandals, gay men will be the first on the chopping block.

I am happily an Old Catholic bishop able to be "out" proud, trannyfag and happily married in Canada. I hope one day Orthodoxy will come into the 21st Century. It would be so wonderful not to have to live in fear and oppression especially for those who believe Orthodoxy to be the "right faith". I have a wonderful godson who is a celibate but gay hieromonk and I hope one day he will come to Old Catholicism...he seems to be warming towards the Old Catholic Church. I could tell you much about my years in Orthodoxy but if you wish to know more pls PM me. I would love to live to see women and GLBTQ people treated with love, acceptance and respect in all the religions.

[knitter4democracy]

13. Unfortunately, you're right. It depends on the bishop.

We're lucky in our jurisdiction, I suppose, in that our bishop's in Russia much of the year and has never actually visited our church (which celebrated 40 years last year). He's supposed to visit every year, but he never gets around to it. Our last bishop (who was promoted in Moscow) was pretty laid-back about a lot of stuff, so the priests have been able to run things in their churches without a lot of nastiness from above. We've got a loving, amazing priest (and I'm good friends with his very loud, very pro-pagan wife), and I hope we can hang onto him.

Orthodoxy in the 21C. Hmm. Have we gotten up to the 18C. yet? I mean, we still don't have a Sunday School curriculum (which is kind of nice--I let my middle schoolers pick what we work on), as it's still such a new idea. It is a bit frustrating as a former evangelical, but I like that we don't rush into anything and tend to be rather hands-off.

I would love to hear your stories sometime. I'm sure God's done amazing work through you. If you ever come to Michigan, let me know. I've got a spare bed. :hug:

[Stevenmarc]

5. Boswell should be required reading, I'm glad his books are still in print.

[elshiva]

6. NEVER FORGET!

:bounce: :bounce:

[libnnc]

8. Boswell was an incredible scholar

big kick :kick:

:thumbsup:

[sui generis]

9. I've referenced this several times in my early postings

Isn't it ironic - and yet it took until the 14th century for the papacy to fake the rest of the bible to enforce the political and social messages that are required to maintain social power and control over reproductive issues needed for any cult or ideology to secure and remain in power.

All that "don't marry outside the faith" is about adding babies to the faith, and therefore more farmers, soldiers and proselytizers all reporting to the same high priest.

[tbyg52]

11. I'm not a religious historian (I'm not religious!), but this doesn't surprise me a bit.

Not that it would make any impression on super-fundies, who appear to believe what they believe because they believe it.

[LeftHander]

14. Cute couple....nt