We introduce sequentially $S_r$ modules over a commutative graded ring and
sequentially $S_r$ simplicial complexes. This generalizes two properties for
modules and simplicial complexes: being sequentially Cohen-Macaulay, and
satisfying Serre's condition $S_r$. In analogy with the sequentially
Cohen-Macaulay property, we show that a simplicial complex is sequentially
$S_r$ if and only if its pure $i$-skeleton is $S_r$ for all $i$. For $r=2$, we
provide a more relaxed characterization.
In this paper we show that if the Stanley-Reisner ring of the simplicial
complex of independent sets of a bipartite graph $G$ satisfies Serre's
condition $S_2$, then $G$ is Cohen-Macaulay. As a consequence, the
characterization of Cohen-Macaulay bipartite graphs due to Herzog and Hibi
carries over this family of bipartite graphs. We check that the equivalence of
Cohen-Macaulay property and the condition $S_2$ is also true for chordal graphs
and we classify cyclic graphs with respect to the condition $S_2$.