Celebration of Feast of Martyrs Sebastian and George

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The feast of Martyrs Sebastian and George were celebrated at St. Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Church on April 22nd with devotion. It was an occasion for the parishioners to become aware of their own special call and choice by God as Christians. Fr. Kuriakose Vadana officiated the liturgical celebrations.

Eleven of the specially chosen twelve apostles responded to their call positively. One of them became a traitor and destroyed himself. Millions of martyrs and saints were faithful to their call. We are also called to be faithful to who we are.

SAINT SEBASTIAN

St. Sebastian was born at Narbonne, Gaul. He became a soldier in the Roman army in Rome in about 283, and encouraged Marcellian and Marcus, under sentence of death, to remain firm in their faith. Sebastian made numerous converts: among them were the master of the rolls, Nicostratus, who was in charge of prisoners and his wife, Zoe, a deaf mute whom he cured; the jailer Claudius; Chromatius, Prefect of Rome, whom he cured of gout; and Chromatius' son, Tiburtius. Chromatius set the prisoners free, freed his slaves, and resigned as prefect.

Sebastian was named captain in the praetorian guards by Emperor Diocletian, and he continued in the same position during Emperor Maximian. Neither knew that Sebastian was a Christian. When it was discovered during Maximian's persecution of the Christians that Sebastian was indeed a Christian, he was ordered to be executed. He was shot with arrows and left for dead, but when the widow of St. Castulus went to recover his body, she found he was still alive and nursed him back to health. Soon after, Sebastian intercepted the Emperor, denounced him for his cruelty to Christians, and was beaten to death on the Emperor's orders. 

SAINT GEORGE

St. George was a soldier in the army of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, and he was one of the Emperor's favorite soldiers. Diocletian was a bitter enemy to the Christians. He ordered every Christian to be put to death. George was a brave Christian, a real soldier of Christ. Without fear, he went to the Emperor and sternly scolded him for being so cruel. Then he gave up his position in the Roman army. He arrested and was tortured in many terrible ways and finally beheaded.

So boldly daring and so cheerful was St. George in declaring his Faith and in dying for it that Christians felt courage when they heard about it. Many songs and poems were written about this martyr. Pictures of St. George usually show him killing a dragon to rescue a beautiful lady. The dragon stands for wickedness. We all have some "dragon" to conquer. It might be pride, or anger, or laziness, or greediness, or something else. Let us make sure to be victorious against these "dragons", with God's help.