For this piece I wanted to focus on Byzantines gay history, and specifically the process of Adelphopoiesis, which is a form of union between two men, usually of the church. It has been compared to our understanding of marriage now. St. Sergius and St. Bacchus are two figures who are strongly connected to this practice, so that is why I chose to represent them for this piece.

I wanted to focus more on their union than their martyrdom, in which they were forced to wear female garb, paraded around the streets and then beheaded. But I still wanted to allude to it in my piece, while still focusing on their lives. That is why I have the skull imagery, the swords, nails and the golden cage behind them. But I didn’t want to have the border just be negative so I balanced it with a marriage knot, a lavender sprig and the quatrefoil. These are all to represent and show their union, love and loyalty.