"Art thou not Sebastian whom I before commanded to be slain with arrows?" ~ A few interesting points about Saint Sebastian's ancient Passio.

Gloria Romanorum ^ | January 20, 2022 | Florentius

[Antoninus]

Saint Sebastian is one of the great ancient martyrs of the Roman Catholic Church as well as one of the saints most frequently depicted in artwork down through the centuries. The image of Sebastian tied to a stake, his body riddled with arrows, is one of the most immediately recognizable and jarring images of the ancient martyrs.

As with many of the martyrs from the days prior to Constantine, his story has become somewhat muddled. He is mentioned in a homily of Saint Ambrose (On Psalm 118) as having come from Milan. Most of the rest of his biography comes from a Passio of dubious provenance. Scholars of the previous era ascribed this work to Saint Ambrose himself, though more modern scholars tend to dismiss this attribution. Few doubt the antiquity of the Passio, however, and the existing work is commonly dated to the early fifth century—or about a century after the events recorded therein.

As with many of the ancient martyrdom accounts, the Passio has not been translated into English. It does, however, exist excerpted in numerous other works, including a detailed synopsis which may be found at The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity site, sponsored by Oxford University.

A different type of synopsis of the Passio may be found in the Homilies of Aelfric of Eynsham, a late 10th century Anglo Saxon abbot who transcribed the Latin tale into Old English for the edification of his monks. Here is the ancient story of Sebastian’s martyrdom as told in part with excerpts from Aelfric’s work. The entirety of the account may be found here: Skeat: Aelfric's Lives of Saints, p. 117 and following.

The Passion of Saint Sebastian, Martyr, January 20

There was a holy servant of God, called Sebastian, who was a long time in the city of Milan for education, and was baptized into Christ with full faith. He was a very prudent man, truthful in word, righteous in judgment, in counsel foreseeing, trusty in need, a prevailing intercessor, shining in goodness, and in all his ways honorable.

Daily he fulfilled his Lord's service zealously, but he concealed, nevertheless, his deeds from the emperor Diocletian who was the devil's worshipper. Diocletian loved the holy man, notwithstanding, and knew not that he believed in the living God. He set him as prefect over a cohort, and bade that he should always be in his presence; and all the household held him as a father, and honored him with love, because God loved him. He followed the emperor, unknown to him, however, not as if he durst not suffer for his Lord, but he desired to encourage those whom the heathen emperor daily killed for their faith in Christ.

Diocletian, as we know, reigned from AD 284 through AD 305 when he abdicated and retired to a fortified palace on the Dalmatian coast. The notion that secret Christians may have existed in the court of Diocletian is in no way surprising and jives well with the account of Lactantius in On the Deaths of the Persecutors. Indeed, it is possible that Diocletian’s own wife, Prisca, and daughter, Valeria, were secret Christians.

Sebastian was able to use his position in the court to console the brothers Marcus and Marcellianus who were imprisoned as Christians by Chromatius, the Prefect of Rome, and condemned to death unless they offered sacrifice to the pagan divinities. These brothers were from an aristocratic family and both wavered as their family members attempted to convince them to save their lives by abjuring the Christian faith. Due to the stature of their families, Chromatius offered a thirty day reprieve for the martyrs to consider their position.

During this time, however, Sebastian convinced the family of Marcus and Marcellianus to accept Christ. When the thirty days expired, Tranquillinus, the father of the young men, came before Chromatius and professed his own faith in Christ, mentioning that his gout had been cured following his baptism. As it turns out, Chromatius suffered from the same ailment and would later secretly summon Sebastian and the priest Polycarp so that they might also heal him. In order to effect the healing, Sebastian and Polycarp endured a three day fast, after which they returned to Chromatius and enjoined him to allow them to destroy all the pagan idols in his house. Chromatius agreed, and the two Christians proceeded to burn, smash, or melt down all of the 200 images of the pagan divinities in the house.

What happens next is very strange indeed, as it seems to tie this ancient Christian literary source to one of the most fascinating archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

When Chromatius failed to recover after his house was cleansed, Sebastian and Polycarp then deduced that something evil must yet remain in his house. At this point, Chromatius reveals something interesting:

“I have in my treasure-chest a wonderful instrument, for my information, according to the position of the stars as they stand in the heavens. On that instrument Tarquinius, my father, spent of red gold alone more than two hundred pounds.”

Previously in the same narrative, this instrument is described as follows:

An excellent work of mechanical contrivance, of glass, and gold, and of glistening crystal. This instrument was designed to show with certainty by the stars what should happen to every man in the course of his life; but it was so formed according to the heathen error.

The remains of the so-called Antikythera Mechanism, believed to be an ancient machine used to compute the movement of the stars and planets.

Does this sound familiar? If you are at all aware of Mediterranean archaeology, it should. In 1901, some sponge divers found a strange ancient artifact in the waters off the Greek island of Antikythera. This item would become known as the Antikythera Mechanism, a type of ancient gear-driven computer used to predict the movements of the stars. It is tantalizing to think that this passage in the Passio of St. Sebastian is actually describing a similar type of machine. It may also be an indication that the Antikythera mechanism was not unique and that other similar devices were known even as late as the 5th century AD.

To get back to our narrative, Sebastian and Polycarp then discoursed to Chromatius upon the evils and vanity of astrology, indicating that the infernal machine must be disposed of. They even put their lives on the line, saying that if they broke the costly device and Chromatius did not recover from his illness, then they would submit to being thrown into a furnace and killed. Chromatius agreed. The device was broken. And Chromatius subsequently recovered. As a result, he and his son became Christians.

Now, certainly there will be some who will latch onto this episode as an example of Christians being so "anti-science" that they even destroyed a precious ancient computing device. Before advancing this claim, however, it is well to keep in mind that the device itself, as expensive and finely crafted as it may have been, was not actually used for any scientific purpose. It was used for the superstitious purpose of attempting to predict the future via the movement of the stars.

Chromatius subsequently resigned his position as Prefect of the city of Rome and was replaced by a certain Fabianus, a man who was much more zealous in carrying out the persecutions mandated by Diocletian against Christians than Chromatius had been. This Fabianus soon laid hold of Marcus and Marcellianus, tortured them, and put them to death. Soon after, he denounced Sebastian to Diocletian as well.

Given that Fabianus was, supposedly, the Prefect of Rome, it is reasonable to conjecture that the denunciation of Sebastian likely took place in AD 303 when Diocletian was in Rome for the celebration of his Vicennalia or 20th anniversary of his reign. This event was meant to be a great, two month long, triumphal festival commemorating the happy and prosperous reign of Diocletian and Maximian. There is evidence, however, that the event became tragic. The Chronography of AD 354 reports that during the event, 13,000 people were killed when the boxes at the circus collapsed. It is also possible that Pope Marcellinus was martyred during this time.

Writing in On the Deaths of the Persecutors, Lactantius claimed that Diocletian was so perturbed during the celebrations at Rome that he departed the city prematurely before his consulship could even begin on January 1. He would subsequently become gravely ill on his journey back to Nicomedia.

Let us assume that the unhappy vicennalia celebration at Rome is the setting for the scene described below in Aelfric’s homily as the dramatic conclusion of St. Sebastian's Passio:

Then became Diocletian fiendishly angry, and commanded him to be led out in hard bonds, into a field, and there to be bound, and assailed with arrows until he gave up his life. Then the soldiers led away the servant of Christ, and set him for a mark, even as the wicked man commanded, and fastened their arrows into him before and behind, as thickly on every side as a hedgehog's bristles, and so left him alone, lying for dead.

Then came a certain widow, who was a martyr's relict, in the same night, where he lay sorely wounded, desiring to bury his body, and found him living. Then she brought him to her house alive, and within a few days entirely healed him. Then came the Christians, and urged the [Christian] warrior, that he ought to depart far away from the city.

But Sebastian commended himself to God, and went up to the staircase, which stood against the emperor's palace, and when the emperor came, thus cried to him:

“Your idol-priests who dwell in your temples tell you many lies concerning the Christians, saying that they are verily adversaries to your kingdom, and also to your people; but your kingdom prospereth through their good merits, because they pray for the Roman people and for your dominion, without ceasing.”

Then looked Diocletian, the fiendish murderer, towards the holy man, who stood there so loftily, and said haughtily, “Art not thou that Sebastian, whom I before commanded to be slain with arrows?

Sebastian said, “Christ raised me up again to the end that I might declare to thee before all the people your unrighteous persecution against the Christians.”

Then bade the emperor that the soldier of God should be beaten to death with clubs within his own city. Then the murderers did even as the emperor commanded, and by night hid his holy corpse in a foul sewer, saying amongst themselves, that at least the Christians should not get at his body, and make him into a martyr afterwards.

The most ancient extant image of St. Sebastian, dating from the mid-6th century AD, may be found in Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna.

Here again, we see a common theme—the desire of the persecutors to deny the martyr's body to the Christian community. But the Christians did find Sebastian’s remains. They were recovered by a widow named Lucina who claimed to have been visited by Sebastian in a dream.

The relics of St. Sebastian would then take on a life of their own, being first deposited in the catacombs at Rome. A basilica would be built over the site in the mid-4th century AD—San Sebastiano fuori le Mura—which would become on one of the seven pilgrim churches of Rome.

Some of his relics would eventually find their way to Soissons in France in the early 9th century where they would remain until they were plundered and thrown into a ditch by Calvinists in 1564.

It is said that a relic of the top of Sebastian’s cranium may be seen to this day in the church of St. Sebastian in Ebersberg, Bavaria.

A good summary of the remaining relics and their locations may be found in St. Sebastian's entry in Butler's Lives of the Saints.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

We simply don’t know the accuracy of this account.

Nor is it evidence it was practiced, taught, and certainly never in Scripture.

[Texas_Guy]

So are the Apostles dead? Scripture never mentioned them dying. The book of Acts just ends. Using the Sola Scriptura logic you can’t even say they died.

Believe in the Trinity? You can’t! Because the word isn’t in scripture.

And what about the bible itself? There isn’t a list of books anywhere in the bible for constitutes the bible. That is why Mad Marty took his knife to it and carved out 6 books.

Not every teaching is in the bible. You need a church with authority for that And until recently very few people could read. This is why the bible alone theology falls flat.

[Antoninus]

We simply don’t know the accuracy of this account.

That's a convenient hedge.

Meanwhile, you're sure the inerrancy of Sacred Scripture....why? Because the Holy Church of antiquity told you so. For the record, I believe that as well. But the fact remains that if you condemn Christians for seeking and venerating relics, you condemn every Christian from the days of the early Church--indeed, the very men who compiled Sacred Scripture for you--through the 16th century when that erroneous doctrine emerged and took hold.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

-->So are the Apostles dead?

No, they will live forever as saved believers.

--> Scripture never mentioned them dying. The book of Acts just ends. Using the Sola Scriptura logic you can’t even say they died.

You fail to understand Sola Scriptura. Bigly. Here we have to say you set up a straw man fallacy argument.

I can however, help you understand the concept more fully here.

'The Reformation principle of sola Scriptura has to do with the sufficiencyof Scripture as our supreme authority in all spiritual matters. Sola Scriptura simply means that all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture.

It is not a claim that all truth of every kind is found in Scripture. The most ardent defender of sola Scriptura will concede, for example, that Scripture has little or nothing to say about DNA structures, microbiology, the rules of Chinese grammar, or rocket science. This or that “scientific truth,” for example, may or may not be actually true, whether or not it can be supported by Scripture—but Scripture is a “more sure Word,” standing above all other truth in its authority and certainty. It is “more sure,” according to the apostle Peter, than the data we gather firsthand through our senses (2 Peter 1:19). Therefore, Scripture is the highest and supreme authority on any matter on which it speaks.

But there are many important questions on which Scripture is silent. Sola Scriptura makes no claim to the contrary.

Nor does sola Scriptura claim that everything Jesus or the apostles ever taught is preserved in Scripture. It only means that everything necessary, everything binding on our consciences, and everything God requires of us is given to us in Scripture (2 Peter 1:3).

Furthermore, we are forbidden to add to or take away from Scripture (cf. Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Rev. 22:18-19). To add to it is to lay on people a burden that God Himself does not intend for them to bear (cf. Matt. 23:4).

Scripture is therefore the perfect and only standard of spiritual truth, revealing infallibly all that we must believe in order to be saved and all that we must do in order to glorify God. That—no more, no less—is what sola Scriptura means.

“The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.” —Westminster Confession of Faith

This comes from the Ligonier Ministries website.

-->Believe in the Trinity? You can’t! Because the word isn’t in scripture

We derive the understanding of God's Triune nature ONLY from Scripture. It matters not what you call it. So that is a silly argument.

-->And what about the bible itself? There isn’t a list of books anywhere in the bible for constitutes the bible. That is why Mad Marty took his knife to it and carved out 6 books.

You fail to know history. He did not cut anything out. But then, he appears to live in your head rent-free... Which is worth celebrating!

-->Not every teaching is in the bible.

Sola Scriptura points out that all that is needed for salvation and Christian maturity is found entirely in Scripture. The rest of the definition is above.

-->You need a church with authority for that

Have one.

->And until recently very few people could read. This is why the bible alone theology falls flat.

Haven't you guys been making that claim for a thousand years now?

Scripture points out that God has given His church teachers, so even those who cannot read can understand truth.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

--> That's a convenient hedge.

It is simply true.

--> Meanwhile, you're sure the inerrancy of Sacred Scripture....why? Because the Holy Church of antiquity told you so.

No, the canon has been revisited and corrected over the millennia.

The erroneous doctrine emerged shortly after the death of the Apostles as they foretold. From there, the worship of objects and departed people.

[Trump_Triumphant]

If Christianity went off the rails by 100 A.D., then Gamaliel was right.

[Antoninus]

No, the canon has been revisited and corrected over the millennia.

At least you're honest. On whose authority was the canon "corrected"?

[aMorePerfectUnion]

The canon was corrected by church leaders.

[Antoninus]

The canon was corrected by church leaders.

Really? When did that happen? And who declared them "church leaders"? And by what authority did they "correct" the canon of Scripture? Did Almighty God tell them to do that?

[aMorePerfectUnion]

..sounds like you are unread. Get to work boy!

[Antoninus]

..sounds like you are unread. Get to work boy!

LOL. Now there is an accusation that has not been leveled at me before. Actually, I know the answer but I wanted you to say it. The canon was "corrected" a full 1,100 years after the fact by self-appointed authorities.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Actually, didn’t it take Rome until we’ll into the 4th (!) century at the Council of Laodicea to formalize their view of the canon…

That it took longer to undo the damage is not surprising. Rome was very busy slaughtering believers to hold on to their authority.

Never the less, God has worked to inspire Scripture, preserve it, and identify it. For this I’m grateful.

[SunkenCiv]

the rest of the keyword, sorted:

• Scientists Have Unlocked the Secrets of the Ancient 'Antikythera Mechanism' [03/14/2021]
• Antikythera Mechanism shows evidence of lunar calendar [12/18/2020]
• The Antikythera mechanism is a 2,000-year-old computer [05/24/2020]
• No, Archaeologists Probably Did Not Find a New Piece of the Antikythera Mechanism [11/23/2018]
• New discovery hints at still further treasures hidden at famous shipwreck [10/21/2017]
• Human skeleton discovered at Antikythera shipwreck after more than 2,000 [09/20/2016]
• Human skeleton found on famed Antikythera shipwreck [09/19/2016]
• Ancient Greek 'computer' came with a user guide [07/02/2016]
• The World's First Computer May Have Been Used To Tell Fortunes [Engraved text translation] [06/10/2016]
• Is This Ancient Greek 'Laptop' Proof That Time Travel Is Real? [in short, no] [02/06/2016]
• Marine Archaeologists Excavate Greek Antikythera Shipwreck [09/26/2015]
• Scientist tackles mystery of ancient astronomical device [01/11/2015]
• Stunning finds from ancient Greek shipwreck [Antikythera] [10/10/2014]
• 'Exosuit' Mission to 2,000-Year-Old Shipwreck Begins [09/17/2014]
• Wearable submarine to hunt for 2000-year-old computer [06/06/2014]
• Return to Antikythera: what divers discovered in the deep [03/27/2013]
• Famed Roman Shipwreck Could Be Two [02/09/2013]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Antikythera Mechanism [01/19/2013]
• Return to Antikythera: Divers revisit wreck where ancient computer found [10/04/2012]
• Lego Antikythera Mechanism [12/10/2010]
• Ancient astronomy: Mechanical inspiration [11/25/2010]
• Shining a light on the past [03/31/2010]
• Coast-2-Coast AM Saturday Sept 26th -Mysterious Artifact (Antikythera mechanism) [09/25/2009]
• Shocking Discovery: a PC in B.C.? (Antikythera Mechanism) [05/02/2009]
• Archimedes and the 2000-year-old computer [12/13/2008]
• Secrets of Antikythera Mechanism, world's oldest calculating machine, revealed [07/31/2008]
• Discovering How Greeks Computed in 100 B.C. [07/31/2008]
• Medieval Calculator Up For Grabs [04/03/2008]
• OOPARTS (Out of Place Artifacts) [08/01/2007]
• Astronomy Picture of the day [12/05/2006]
• Enigma of ancient world's computer is cracked at last [11/29/2006]
• In search of lost time (Antikythera Mechanism) [11/29/2006]
• Scientists Unravel Mystery of Ancient Greek Machine [11/29/2006]
• An Ancient Computer Surprises Scientists (2200yo Roman computer!) [11/29/2006]
• Ancient calculator was 1,000 yrs ahead of its time [11/29/2006]
• Were Greeks 1,400 years ahead of their time? [06/07/2006]
• The Antikythera Mechanism (Computer - 56BC) [04/30/2006]
• Kurzweil featured on new syndicated radio show "Science Fantastic" hosted by Michio Kaku [04/14/2006]
• Unearthing the Treasures of the Mediterranean [07/09/2005]
• The Antikythera Mechanism: Physical and Intellectual Salvage from the 1st Century B.C. [08/14/2004]
• Secret Handshake [03/06/2004]
• Strange stories, weird facts [01/17/2004]
• Did The Ancient Greeks Make A Computer? [11/01/2003]

[Texas_Guy]

And scripture came out of the church, not the other way around. The councils and Pipes determined what was scripture and what was not based on the teachings of the Church, the body of Christ.

[Texas_Guy]

Because it’s true. Illiteracy was common up until the 20th century, and still is in many countries. This is why Sola Scriptura is false and ridiculous.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Again, your statement perverts the meaning of Sola Scriptura

[aMorePerfectUnion]

—> And scripture came out of the church,

No. It came because God decreed it so, I wired authors He chose, and worked in history to preserve it.

2/3 of scripture was written and recognized before the birth of Christ. It foretold His birth.

Later the councils decisions had to be examined and improved.