St. Sebastian was an officer in Rome in 283. Emperor Diocletian named him Commander of the Praetorian Guard, unaware that he had became a Christian. Sebastian sustained the courage of two imprisoned confessors, Mark and Marcellian, as well as other Christian prisoners. He did not conceal his faith and was arrested and sentenced to death by being shot with arrows. Irene, the widow of St. Castulus the martyr, took the still breathing Sebastian to a safe place and treated his wounds. Once cured, Sebastian defied the Emperor once again; this time he was stoned. He is buried in a catacomb near Via Appia.  After Peter and Paul, Sebastian is the third patron of Rome. He is also the patron saint of gunsmiths and is invoked against plague and epilepsy. He is often depicted with an arrow, or arrows, in his body.