Hl. Sebastian

Statue of Saint Sebastian from the year 1748 in Franzen. The figure of the saint is tied to a tree trunk and pierced with 4 arrows. On the decorated pedestal the coat of arms of the Barons von Ehrmanns, owners of the Dobra dominion. Sebastian was a Roman soldier and has been venerated as a martyr and saint in the Catholic and Orthodox churches since the 4th century. According to tradition, Sebastian had publicly professed Christianity as a captain of the Praetorian Guard at the imperial court, whereupon Diocletian condemned him to death and had him shot by Numidian archers. Believing him to be dead, he was then left lying there. Sebastian was not dead, but was nursed back to health by a widow, Saint Irene, who actually wanted to prepare him for burial. After his recovery, he returned to Diocletian and professed Christianity again. Diocletian then ordered him to be beaten to death with clubs in the Circus. Sebastian's body was thrown into the Cloaca Maxima, from which it was recovered by Christians.