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Sebak

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SEBASTE.

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(See THICKET).

Sebald, ST,, a legendary wonder-worker of the Romish Church, said to have been the son of a Danish king, or, by another tradition, of a peasant. He began his studies at Paris before he was fifteen years of age, and after a few years married a daughter of the king Dagobert, from whom, however, he separated with her consent after the lapse of a single day, in order to become a hermit and practice a rigid asceticism. After ten years he made a pilgrimage to Rome, and received authority to preach from pope Gregory II. While on the way to Germany he miraculously delivered St. Willibald from death by starvation, and after reaching Bavaria he wrought numerous conversions, gathered churches, and settled near Nuremberg as a hermit. The date of his death is uncertain, being given as A.D. 801, 901, or 1070. He had directed that his body should be laid on a wagon drawn by four bullocks, and buried where the cattle should come to a stop. The place so indicated was before St. Peter's Chapel at Nuremberg, which, accordingly, after having been transformed into a church, took his name. Many wonders were wrought by his lifeless body, in consequence of which he was beatified by pope Gregory X, and canonized by Martin V (1425), while the town of Nuremberg chose him for its patron saint. The 19th of August is set apart for his commemoration. A rich and artistic monument by Peter Vischer, erected to his memory, may be seen in the Church of St. Sebaldus, at Nuremberg.