200s Archives - Q Spirit

Sergius and Bacchus: Paired male saints loved each other in ancient Roman army

by Kittredge Cherry | | Oct 1-15, Saints

Saints Sergius and Bacchus were third-century Roman soldiers, Christian martyrs and men who loved each other. Their story is told here in words and images for their feast day on Oct. 7. They are by far the best documented, most widely worshiped and most influential...

Maurice and Theofredus: Same-sex paired saints and martyrs of Thebes

by Kittredge Cherry | | Saints, Sept 1-15

Maurice and Theofredus are third-century martyr-saints and soldiers of Thebes with a homosocial bond. They are shown as a same-sex pair in Renaissance art. Maurice’s feast day is Sept. 22 in the Catholic tradition and Dec. 27 in the Orthodox tradition. Theofredus is...

Perpetua and Felicity: Patron saints of same-sex couples, early Christian martyrs and friends to the end

by Kittredge Cherry | | March 1-15, Saints

Perpetua and Felicity are 3rd-century North African paired saints who were executed together for their Christian faith. Some consider them lesbian saints or patrons of same-sex couples. Transgender people also draw inspiration from Perpetua because she had a queer...

Saints Polyeuct and Nearchus: Brothers by affection

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 1-15, Saints

Saints Polyeuct and Nearchus were Roman soldiers in 3rd-century Armenia and “brothers by affection.” They are a prime example of same-sex lovers in the early church. Polyeuct’s feast day is Feb. 13. The earliest account of Polyeuct’s martyrdom, a 4th-century Armenian...

Saint Valentine: Marriage equality role model

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 1-15, Saints

Marriage equality has a surprising role model in Saint Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman priest who defied the restrictive marriage laws of his era to bless couples who were forbidden to marry. His feast day is, of course, Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14). Saint Valentine was...

Saint Sebastian: History’s first gay icon?

by Kittredge Cherry | | Jan 16-31, Saints

Saint Sebastian has been called history’s first gay icon and the patron saint of homosexuality. Sebastian was an early Christian martyr killed in 288 in Rome on orders from the Roman emperor Diocletian. His feast day is Jan. 20. He is the subject of countless artworks...