Sebastian (the name means "the venerable one") 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 to convert more and more Romans. According to legend, when Diocletian learned of Sebastian's faith, he had him tied to a tree and shot by Numidian archers. However, he was not killed by the arrows. A widow named Irene took care of him and tended his wounds. When he had recovered, he publicly confronted the astonished emperor to reproach him for the 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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