Holy Martyr Sebastian and Others with Him

Life

This glorious martyr of Christ was born in Italy and was raised in the city of Milan. In his youth Sebastian gave himself over to military service, and as learned, handsome, and brave Sebastian was beloved by Emperor Diocletian, who appointed him as commander of his palace guard. In secret Sebastian confessed the Christian Faith and prayed to the Living God. As an honest, just and merciful man, Sebastian was greatly beloved by his soldiers. Wherever he could, Sebastian saved Christians from torment and death, and where he could not, Sebastian encouraged them to die unflinchingly for Christ the Living God. Two brothers, Marcus and Marcellinus, who were in prison because of Christ and already on the verge of renouncing Christ and bowing to idols, Sebastian confirmed in the Faith and encouraged for martyrdom. When Sebastian was speaking to them not to fear death for Christ, his face became radiant and all saw his face bright as the face of an angel of God. Sebastian confirmed his words with miracles: Sebastian healed Zoe, the wife of the jailer Nicostratus, who had been mute for six years, from muteness, and brought both her and the whole household of Nicostratus to baptism; Sebastian also healed the two sick sons of the general Claudius, and brought Claudius and his household to baptism; Sebastian healed Tranquillinus, the father of Marcus and Marcellinus, of an eleven-year gout and foot disease, and brought him to baptism together with his whole household; Sebastian also healed the Roman eparch Chromatius of the same illness, and brought him and his son Tiburtius to baptism. Of these, Saint Zoe suffered first, whom they seized at the tomb of the Apostle Peter where she was praying to God. After torturing her, they cast her into the river Tiber. Then they seized Tiburtius, and the judge set coals before him, telling him to choose life or death, that is, either to cast incense and make offerings to idols, or himself to stand barefoot on the coals. Saint Tiburtius crossed himself and stood barefoot on the coals, and remained unharmed. Then he was beheaded with a sword; Nicostratus was killed with a club; Tranquillinus was drowned in water; Marcus and Marcellinus were tortured and pierced with spears. Then Sebastian was led before Emperor Diocletian. The emperor reproached him for treason, but Sebastian said: I always pray to my Christ for thy health and for the peace of the Roman Empire. The emperor commanded that they shoot him naked with arrows. The soldiers shot him with arrows until the whole body of the martyr was covered with arrows, so that he was no longer visible from the arrows. And when all thought that he was dead, Sebastian appeared alive and completely whole. Then the pagans beat him to death with clubs. Sebastian suffered gloriously for Christ his Lord and passed into the Heavenly Kingdom in the year 287, in the time of Emperor Diocletian and Gaius, Bishop of Rome.

From the Hymn of Praise

Holy Sebastian was covered with arrows,In a thicket of arrows his body was clad,Under the arrows his soul was unscathed,To heaven his heart lifted up in prayer.