Saint Sebastian the Martyr was born in 256 AD. He lived as a Soldier of the Roman Army and was the Captain of the Praetorian Guards under Diocletian and Maximian. He died in 288 AD, as a martyr. His feast day is celebrated on January 20 in the Roman Catholic Church and on December 18 in the Orthodox Church.
Saint Sebastian the Martyr’s Life History
Sebastian was born in 256 AD and was said to have been educated in Milan. Not much of his early childhood is known but he grew up to become a soldier, entered the army of Rome and worked hard enough to be one of the Captains of the Praetorian Guards under Diocletian and Maximian. He had entered the army as a christian so that he could help persecuted Christians while undetected.
He converted the parebts to Marcus and Marcellianus, twins of a high ranking family, Tranquillinus and Martia, after they had visited their sons in prison to persuade them to denounce their Christianity to save their lives. The twins had been arrested for refusing to publicly sacrifice to the Roman gods. Sebastian converted an official, Nicostratus and his wife Zoe, who upon her conversion, miraculously regained her voice as she was mute for 6 years. After this, Nicostratus brought more people to Sebastian to be converted.
He converted St Tiburtius, the son of Chromatius, the local prefect, who ended up being brought into Christianity as well and freeing all his prisoners while retiring to the county of Campania.
Sebastian, after hiding his faith for a while, was discovered in 256 AD and Diocletian ordered that he be put to death by being tied on to a pole in the field to be used as archers as target practice. He was left for dead and was discovered not to have died by St. Irene of Rome, who had taken it upon herself to retrieve hos body for burial. She took him in and helped him regain his health.
Upon Sebastian’s recovery, he went and rebuked Emperor Diocletian for his cruelty against Christians. The Emperor then ordered that Sebastian be killed by being beaten with clubs and his body thrown in the sewers. A woman named Lucina retrieved his body and buried it in the Catacombs where now stands the Basilica of Saint Sebastian.
Sebastian died in 288 AD, as a martyr.
Saint Sebastian the Martyr’s Birth
He was born in 256 AD.
Saint Sebastian the Martyr’s Death
He died in 288 AD, as a martyr.
Saint Sebastian the Martyr’s Education
He received his education in Milan.
Profession
He lived as a Soldier of the Roman Army and was the Captain of the Praetorian Guards under Diocletian and Maximian.
Saint Sebastian the Martyr’s Canonization
He was canonized pre-congregation
Venerated in
He is venerated in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodoxy , Anglicanism and the Aglipayan Church.
Saint Sebastian the Martyr’s Feast Day
His feast day is celebrated on January 20 in the Roman Catholic Church and on December 18 in the Orthodox Church.
Saint Sebastian the Martyr’s Relics
His remains were housed in Rome in the Basilica Apostolorum, built by Pope Damasus I in 367 AD. It is said that the body was given to Saint Sebastian by Pope Eugenius II and it was deposited at St Medard Abbey at Soissons on December 8 826 AD.
Major Shrines
His major shrine is located in San Sebastian fuori le mura, Italy.
Attributes
He is attributed as tied to a post or pillar and arrows pierces through his body.
Saint Sebastian the Martyr is the Patron Saint of
He is the patron saint of soldiers, those stricken by plagues, martyrs, athletes, Roman Catholic Dioceses of; Lipa, Tarlac, Bacolod, Rio de Janeiro, Lumban and Laguna.
Saint Sebastian the Martyr’s Prayer
Saint Sebastian, we ask your intercession to fortify all those who are weak in their faith. You give heroic witness in leaving on high station to accept a near martyrdom and then returned to suffer and die once and for all. Give us the grace to face our enemies when our weak nature wants us to run the other way.
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