Sts. Fabian, Pope, and Sebastian, Martyr: Station at the Cemetery of Callixtus and at that ad Catacumbas

xv_century_spanish_panel_of_saint_sebastian_and_saint_fabian1Pope St. Fabian ruled the Church from A.D.236 to A.D. 250.  He died a glorious martyr in the persecution under Decius in 250.  St. Sebastian was a high officer in the army of Emperor Diocletian.  When it was learned that he was a Christian he was condemned to death.  He was first shot with arrows, but as he survived this he was finally beaten to death in 288, by order of the Emperor.

 (Source: Fr. Lasance, The New Roman Missal)