This is a term for the Catholic Church's blessing of same sex friendships prior to the late middle ages.
Anyone theologically well-grounded can weigh in on this.
Perhaps this was the "civil union" blessed by the church?

[QUOTE=Do_unto_others;87475]Hi James,

Is this the process whereby Saints Sergius and Bacchus were joined by the Church?[/QUOTE]

Yup.

It always seemed to me that these ceremonies were the equivalent of civil unions vs. marriages.  There are many who still argue that these ceremonies have nothing to do with joining gay couples.  I think the term was "brother-making", though it's been many years since I read Boswell's book on this subject.  Regardless, it appears clear to me that many gay couples back in the day did indeed use the ceremony to join together with each other.