Saint Sebastian was born in the city of Narbonne in Gaul, or perhaps Milan, around the 3rd century AD, during a time when Christianity faced severe persecution under Roman rule. Historians suggest that Sebastian came from a Christian family and was deeply devout from an early age. Despite his faith, he joined the Roman army, not to persecute Christians, but to serve as a protector of believers and secretly provide comfort to those imprisoned for their religion.
 

Sebastian’s position as a soldier provided him unique access to the persecuted Christian communities, where he was known for his acts of compassion and encouragement. His bravery in maintaining his faith while navigating the perilous environment of a pagan military structure earned him admiration within Christian circles.
 

According to tradition, Marcus and Marcellianus were twin brothers from a distinguished family who served as deacons. Both brothers were married and lived in Rome with their wives and children. They refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods and were subsequently arrested. During their imprisonment, their parents Tranquillinus and Martia visited them and attempted to persuade them to renounce Christianity. However, Sebastian managed to convert Tranquillinus and Martia, as well as Tiburtius, the son of Chromatius, the local prefect. Another official, Nicostratus, and his wife Zoe were also converted. It is said that Zoe had been mute for six years; however, she expressed her desire to be converted to Christianity to Sebastian, and upon her conversion, her speech returned. Nicostratus then brought the rest of the prisoners to Sebastian, resulting in the conversion of these 16 individuals.

Martyrdom and Legend

Saint Sebastian’s story takes a dramatic turn under the reign of Emperor Diocletian, a ruler infamous for his brutal campaign against Christians. Sebastian’s secret adherence to Christianity was eventually discovered. According to legend, Diocletian ordered that Sebastian be executed by being tied to a tree and shot with arrows, He was tied to a tree and shot with arrows by Roman archers, an ordeal that has become one of the most iconic images in Christian art.

 "And the archers shot at him till he was as full of arrows as an urchin is full of pricks, and thus left him there for dead." Miraculously, the arrows did not kill him. The widow of Castulus, Irene of Rome, went to retrieve his body to bury it, and discovered he was still alive. She brought him back to her house and nursed him back to health.
 

Sebastian later stood by a staircase where the emperor was to pass and harangued Diocletian for his cruelties against Christians. This freedom of speech, and from a person whom he supposed to have been dead, greatly astonished the emperor; but recovering from his surprise, he gave orders for Sebastian to be seized and beaten to death with cudgels, and his body thrown into the common sewer. A holy lady named Lucina, admonished by the martyr in a vision, privately removed the body and buried it in the catacombs at the entrance of the cemetery of Callixtus, where now stands the Basilica of St. Sebastian.