Saint Sebastian was a 3rd century Christian saint and a martyr. After completing his education in Milan, he had joined the Roman Army in order to help the suffering Christians. For his incredible service to the army, Sebastian was promoted to serve in the Praetorian Guard and to protect Emperor Diocletian. He also worked for the army of emperor Carinus and soon became a captain. However, when the authorities found out that Sebastian was a Christian and that he had been converting many soldiers, he was ordered to be killed by Mauritanian archers. Somehow, he managed to survive despite the arrows piercing through his body. He was nursed back to health by the widow of St. Castulus, who had earlier gone to recover his body. However, when Emperor Diocletian came to know that Sebastian had survived, he ordered his soldiers to capture him and beat him to death. Over the centuries, he came to be venerated in the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. He is considered the patron of archers, soldiers, and athletes, and is believed to save people against the plague. There is also a church dedicated to him in Italy that is visited by many pilgrims even today. There is a Christian catacomb below this church.