Sebastian was the testimony of Ambrose of Milan, but perhaps also born in Narbonne, a legend in the environment of Sebastian tomb at the church of S. Sebastiano fuori le mura in Rome.

The legend tells Sebastian - about the man knew nothing, but only knew his grave - on the basis of the importance of his name: Therefore, he was at the time of Pope Gaius Prätorianergarde captain of the imperial court of Diocletian. He hid on the farm his Christian faith, but his position allowed him, his Christian faith comrades in the prisons of Rome to help - so Marcus and Marcellianus, Tiburtius, and the four "crowned" Claudius, Castorius, Nicostratus and Symphorianus. He spoke to them about courage, it could always convert more Romans, worked wonders, and converted the Roman nobles and took care of the funeral of the martyrs.

This legend was the Emperor Diocletian when he learned of Sebastian's belief that this tie to a tree and archers shoot numidischen. Sebastian was dead and kept on execution are allowed, but he was not of the arrows had been killed. The widow of the martyr Castulus named Irene took care of his and his wounds. When he had recovered, he astonished the emperor publicly opposed to him, the cruel futility of his pursuits providing. Diocletian ordered him out of the palace in Hippodrom "Domus Augustana" on the Palatine in Rome and flog to death the corpse into the "Cloaca Maxima", the "biggest drain" by the Palatine and the Tiber led the Pons Aemilius culminated in the river . throw. Sebastian appeared to be the Lucina Christian in a dream and showed her the place, they brought out the corpse and buried him in Coemeterium on the Appian Way, the Catacombs of Sebastian. 

 Giorgetti: statue at the grave, to 1665, in the church of S. Sebastiano fuori le mura in Rome
The Martyrdom of Sebastian in Rome was the first time 354 witnesses, as the burial place of Coemeterium ad Catacumbas "on the Via Appia called - today the catacombs of Sebastian - where for a time also Peter and Paul, were venerated. In the 4th Century, this cemetery was in the Apostle church, this was one of the seven churches of early Christian pilgrims in Rome. Beginning of the 5th Century, the grave was rebuilt so that many pilgrims were given better access. In the 9th Century, the Apostle Church in S. Sebastiano fuori le mura, or "ad Catacumbas renamed.

The story Sebastians suffering has the character of an epic novel, little historical value and summarizes various Roman martyr stories in an act together. Occasionally, they ascribed to Ambrose, in fact it was probably middle of the 5th Century. 

 Lorenzo Costa: Sebastian, 1490-91, Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence
Sebastians worship takes place on the 6th Century with mosaics in Ravenna, in Spain and Northern Africa. A plague epidemic was in Pavia in the year 680 lapsed after his relics brought here and the streets wore. 826 relics have been to St-Médard in Soissons - the traditional seat of French kings - put. Pope Gregory IV around 840 built an oratory with Sebastian relics near the St. Peter's Church, Leo IV was a little later relics in the church of Santi Quattro Crowned bring. A reliquary is now in the Vatican Library. Other relics are in Haguenau in Alsace, Ebersberg in Bavaria and other places of Italy and Europe. 1464 quake was Hausen in Wurttemberg by Pope Pius II one - dating to the late - arrow, fast as Sebastian Pfeil was revered, he is now in the church in Martin Hirrlingen in Tübingen.

"Sebastian Arrows' was one earlier than protection against the plague - the disease arriving." The first martyrdom of Saint Sebastian was a popular theme in the art of the Renaissance, the tree standing naked on the popular theme of the martyred nudes are found, and now he finds, therefore, the interest of homosexuals, and it applies to them as "the patron saint against AIDS". Since the Middle Ages is the first new drinking the wine customary on this day, this wine is known as "Sebastian's arrow" means. His appearance after the martyrdom of so many arrows made him the patron of the brush-making.