Saints

Saint Sebastian Martyr. Patron of soldiers, archers, in time of plague. St Sebastian died during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian. He was buried on the Appian Way close to the basilica which was named after him. Little is known about him, but according to legend, he was a soldier from Gaul who enlisted in the Roman army in 283. He was soon made a captain in the Pretorian guard and visite... Read More

Benedictine monk and bishop of Worcester. Wulfstan was born of Anglo Saxon parents in 1008 at Itchington in Warwickshire. Educated at the abbeys of Evesham and Peterborough, he excelled in piety and sport. After he was ordained priest he was offered a richly endowed church but refused it. Instead he became a Benedictine monk at Worcester Cathedral Priory. He soon became master of the boys, cant... Read More

Virgin, martyr of Rome. St Agnes is one of the most famous of early Christian saints. Her death in 305 was recorded in the Deposito Martyrum just 40 years later. Around that time a basilica was built over her grave in the Via Nomentana. Many early writers, including Ambrose, Jerome, Damasus and Prudentias praised her. It seems she was a young girl who was killed because she refused to marry, havi... Read More