Jumelage
Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire - Porthcawl
Town Twinning Association

Saint Sebastian, whose name day is celebrated on January 20th, very early was the patron saint of the town of Saint-Sébastien-d'Aigne; which was the first name of the town.

A native from Milan, Sebastian enlisted in the roman army. His aim was to help the soldiers into the Christian Faith. As he had been denounced because of his thaumaturgic powers, he was sentenced by Diocletian, the emperor, to be executed by his own archers of the pretorian guard he commanded. He survived his wounds. Sentenced again, he died in that second capital punishment. Arrows then became the symbol of Sebastian who was made patron saint to the archers, crossbowmen and upholsterers.

The plague, since ancient times, either Greek, Roman or even Muslim, and to the Middle Ages, was supposed to spread by arrows sent by God. It is also the deadly weapon of God in the Holly Bible. During the early Middle Ages, the one who survived wounds caused by arrows was bound to survived the plague, the scourge of God. From 14th c. to 17th c., during epidemics of plague; which devastated Europe, people turned to Saint Sebastian to ask for protection.

Then the people in Nantes developped the habit of crossing the River Loire to walk in processions. The latter then became ritual even after epidemics ended. Then inhabitants of Western France came as well. Saint-Sébastien-d'Aigne, as well as other towns, attracted more pilgrims than the numerous chapels scattered in the countryside. Rabelais (1494-1553), in Gargantua, quote repeatedly the pilgrimage of Saint-Sébastien-d'Aigne.