Sebastian (the name means "the honourable") was born in Milan or Narbonne and died as a martyr in Rome in 288. He was captain of the Praetorian Guard at the imperial court of Emperor Diocletian (240-316) and continued to profess his Christian faith there despite the ban. His position enabled him to assist his fellow Christians in Rome's prisons and convert more and more Romans.
According to legend, when Diocletian learnt of Sebastian's faith, he had him tied to a tree and shot at by Numidian archers. Surprisingly, however, he was not killed by the many arrows. A widow named Irene took care of him and tended to his wounds. When he had recovered, he publicly confronted the astonished emperor to reproach him for his cruel persecution. Diocletian then had him flogged to death in the Circus of Rome and the body thrown into the "cloaca maxima".
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Thomas Götz
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