Roman Catholic Church commemorates St. Sebastian on January 20

St. Sebastian, the Patron Saint of youth, soldiers, athletes and plague, is commemorated in the Roman Catholic Church by an optional memorial on January 20 and on December 18 by the Orthodox Church.

As a protector from the bubonic plague, Saint Sebastian was formerly one of the Fourteen Helpers. He was the patron saint of the Catholic War Veteran of the United States of America. The Honor of Legion of the Order of St. Sebastian is the highest award given by the Catholic War Veteran.

The relics of St. Sebastian are placed in Rome in the Basilica Apostoiorum built by Pope Damasus. The church was built in 1610 under patronage of Scipione Borghese is called today San Sebastiano fuori le mura.

St. Sebastian was a youth of great faith when such faith had to be hidden and known to have brought Christianity to the Roman army. He sacrificed his life rather than denying his religion. Such actions is afforded special institutionalized recognition for the sainthood. St. Sebastian’s story is one of strength, courage and dedication, a youngster devoted to God to the very end. He gained the glorious crown of martyrdom in the year 288, in Rome, Italy.

The oldest record of the details of Sebastian’s martyrdom is a sermon on Psalm 118 by 4th century Bishop Ambrose of Milan (Saint Ambrose). Ambrose stated that Sebastian came from Milan from a Nobel family and that he was already venerated there.

He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. According to records, he defended the city of Rome against the plague. He was also venerated as protector from the bubonic plague and as patron of plague victims.

The relics of St. Sebastian are placed in Rome in the Basilica Apostoiorum built by Pope Damasus. The church was built in 1610 under patronage of Scipione Borghese is called today San Sebastiano fuori le mura.

St. Sebastian was a youth of great faith when such faith had to be hidden and known to have brought Christianity to the Roman army. He sacrificed his life rather than denying his religion. Such actions is afforded special institutionalized recognition for the sainthood. St. Sebastian’s story is one of strength, courage and dedication, a youngster devoted to God to the very end. He gained the glorious crown of martyrdom in the year 288, in Rome, Italy.

Most of his relics were placed by Pope Eugene the II in the Basilica of San Sebastiano (Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archeology undertook excavations in the so called Platonia Monsignor Aathon Dival)

In 934 the Cranium skull of St. Sebastian was brought to Ebersberg (Germany) by Pope Stephen the VIII. The relic of St. Sebastian in Ebersberg consist of the upper part of the skull of St. Sebastian.

– Godfrey Cooray,

Senior attorney –at–law, Ambassador to Norway, Finland and Iceland