He is said to have been killed during Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians. Why did Saint Sebastian die? According to tradition, St. Sebastian was ordered to be killed by arrows for converting his fellow Roman soldiers to Christianity. Cause of Death - Beaten to Death. His second execution is virtually never depicted. ... where he died. Sebastian was sentenced to death by archer firing guard, but against all odds, he survived the execution. Sebastian endured the arrows and was soon to die until St. Irene of Rome recovered his body and succeeded in nursing him back to health. He became a soldier in the Roman army at Rome in about 283, and encouraged Marcellian and Marcus, under sentence of death, to remain firm in their faith. That did not make his superiors very happy so he was condemned to die. Also, Cecilia was sentenced that she should die by suffocation in the baths. Who was St. Sebastian and how did he come to be the symbol of both? Soon after, Sebastian intercepted the Emperor, denounced him for his cruelty to Christians, and was beaten to death on the Emperor’s orders. It wasn't much longer that St. Sebastian's deeds caught up with him. St. Sebastian was martyred about the year 288 in Rome. St. When the time came for his execution, Sebastian's body was riddled with arrows but he did not die. Roman Emperor Diocletian came to the conclusion that Sebastian was a Christian and ordered him to be tied to a stake in a field and shot to death by arrows. After completing his education in Milan, he had joined the Roman Army in order to help the suffering Christians. When the faithful came to bury his body they found he was still alive and nursed him back to health. Nothing is known about St. Sebastian's youth other than the fact he may have come from southern France and he was educated in Milan. He survived, and with the help of Saint Irene, recovered, and returned to preach to Diocletian. Eventually, when word reached the governor, she was arrested, tortured and beheaded. Saint Sebastian. – Gregorian Sacramentary. The execution scene so often portrayed - with the Saint transfixed with arrows - is based on the legend about his life and death during the reign of the Roman emperor, Diocletian. Sebastian was tied to a tree, shot with arrows, and left for dead. Following his recovery, he presented himself to Diocletian and was subsequently beaten to death. How did a burly, middle-aged soldier become an enduring, homo-erotic icon? Date of Death: Saint Sebastian died in 268. ... where he died. We should ask St. Sebastian for the understanding of the moral profile of the Catholic hero. MLA Citation “Saint Sebastian“. Watch the amazing story of Saint Sebastian Today, Saint Sebastian is considered as the patron saint against epidemic diseases, and also for the athletes. Saint Cecilia's death was very tragic. Date of Death: Saint Sebastian died in 268. Saint Sebastian (c. AD 256 – 288) was an early Christian saint and martyr.According to traditional belief, he was killed during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians, initially being tied to a post or tree and shot with arrows, though this did not kill him.