ON S. SEBASTIANA, WONDER-WORKER AMONG THE GREEKS.
Cult proven from the Menaia and Synaxaria.
Sebastiana, Wonder-worker honored among the Greeks (S.)
G. H.
The Ms. Greek Synaxarium already indicated above of the Church of Constantinople, as ancient, so of great authority, has these things at the end of this day: Καὶ τῆς ὁσίας Μητρὸς ἡμῶν Σεβαστιανῆς, τῆς Θαυματουργοῦ. "And of our holy Mother Sebastiana, the Wonder-worker, or worker of miracles." Two things are hinted at here: First, that Sebastiana presided over some monastery of women, and perhaps at Constantinople or under this Patriarchate; for this seems to signify the title "our holy Mother"; then, that she performed very many miracles, in her life or after her death; whence the surname of Wonder-worker came to her. That these miracles were once described, is probable. In the Ms. Synaxarium of Chifflet she is similarly called Wonder-worker, and with the printed Menaia is said to have finished her life in peace: in both, this distich is added, with allusion to the name of Sebastiana, taken from venerability:
Σεβαστιανῆς ὡς τὰ λοιπὰ τοῦ βίου Σεβαστὰ πᾶσι καὶ τὸ τοῦ βίου τέλος.
"As of Sebastiana the rest of life, So venerable to all was the end of life."
We have the Arabic-Egyptian Martyrology, which from the Arabic language into Latin Grace Simonus translated, and Athanasius Kircher sent to us from Rome: in which on this day is indicated the Contest of S. Sebastiana, where the word "Contest" perhaps is inserted in place of "Memory." Meanwhile her veneration is confirmed; and the suspicion arises that she somewhat pertains to Egypt, and exercised herself and others with her in some hermitage of it.