St, Sebastian Unit

  FEAST DAY: 20th January

According to his legend, Sebastian was born at Narbonne, Gaul.He became a soldier in the Roman army at Rome in about 283, andencouraged Marcellian and Marcus, under sentence of death, to remainfirm in their faith. Sebastian was named the captain in the praetorianguards by Emperor Diocletian, as did Emperor Maximian when Diocletianwent to the East. Neither knew that Sebastian was a Christian. Whenit was discovered during Maxmian’s persecution of the Christians thatSebastian was indeed a Christian, he was ordered executed. He wasshot with arrows and left for dead and when the widow of St. Castuluswent to recover his body, she found he was still arrived and nursedhim back to health. Soon after, Sebastian intercepted the Emperor,denounced him for his cruelty to Christians, and was beaten to death onthe Emperor’s orders. He is the patron of archers, athletes, and soldiers,and he is appealed to for protection against Plagues.