Saint Sebastian of Seattle and San Francisco (Whirledge) Icon - S677

Saint Sebastian (Dabovich) was born the son of Serbian immigrants in San Francisco, California, in 1863. He studied theology in Kiev and Saint Petersburg, where he was tonsured a monk and ordained a hierodeacon in 1887.

After completing his education, Father Sebastian returned to the United States, serving in San Francisco and later as a hieromonk in Minneapolis. Under Saint Tikhon, he worked extensively as a pastor among Orthodox immigrants and as a missionary to English-speaking communities across the United States. In 1894, he founded the first Serbian parish in America (Saint Sava Church in Jackson, California). He served as temporary priest at Saint Spyridon Church in Seattle, Washington, and later served in Alaska and other areas. His travels took him to Serbia, Russia, and even Japan, where he met Saint Nicholas of Japan.

In the icon, his scroll contains a quote from one of his famous sermons, The Condition of Society, a prophetic word even to this day. He said, "The preacher of the Word of God is obliged by a terrible oath he has given before he received the gift of Apostolic succession at his ordination, to present to you the whole of the Truth, not a part of it."

In 1905, Saint Tikhon elevated him to the rank of archimandrite for his tireless efforts. During the Balkan Wars and World War I, he served as a chaplain in the Serbian Army. In retirement, he resided at Saint Sava Monastery in Zhicha, Serbia, until his repose on November 17/30, 1940. Saint Nikolai Velimirovich presided at his funeral.

Saint Sebastian was glorified in 2015, with the glorification presided over by Serbian Patriarch Irinej. His feast is celebrated on November 30.

This icon is offered by Legacy Icons with the permission of the iconographer, Brian Matthew Whirledge.