Saint Sebastian Catholic Outdoor Statues; Saint Sebastian (c. 256 - 288 AD) was an early Christian saint and martyr. According to traditional belief, he was killed during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. He was first tied to a post or tree and shot with arrows, which did not kill him. According to tradition, he was saved and healed by St. Irene of Rome, which became a popular subject in 17th century painting. In all versions of the story, he went to Diocletian shortly after his recovery to warn him of his sins, and was subsequently bludgeoned to death. He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.
The oldest record of the details of Sebastian's martyrdom is a sermon on Psalm 118 by Bishop Ambrose of Milan (Saint Ambrose) from the 4th century. In his sermon, Ambrose stated that Sebastian was from Milan and was venerated there even then. Today, Saint Sebastian is a popular male saint, especially among athletes. In historical times, he was considered a saint with the special ability to intercede to protect against the plague, and devotion to him increased greatly when the plague was active.
The oldest record of the details of Sebastian's martyrdom is a sermon on Psalm 118 by Bishop Ambrose of Milan (Saint Ambrose) from the 4th century. In his sermon, Ambrose stated that Sebastian was from Milan and was venerated there even then. Today, Saint Sebastian is a popular male saint, especially among athletes. In historical times, he was considered a saint with the special ability to intercede to protect against the plague, and devotion to him increased greatly when the plague was active.
