3 February: Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr

There is not much reliable information on Saint Blaise of Sebaste. What is known comes from the Acts of Saint Blaise, which were written in Greek. Blaise studied philosophy as a young man and was a respected physician in Sebaste, Armenia, his hometown. Following the death of the city’s Bishop, he was elected as his successor by popular acclaim.

According to the Golden Legend, after Blaise was appointed Bishop, he fled from the emperor’s persecutions and took refuge in a cave, where he lived as a hermit. He would sit at the cave’s entrance, as animals gathered around him, some to receive his blessing, others to be healed from injury.

Roman soldiers found the cave during a hunting expedition in 316, and arrested Blaise by order of Agricola, the governor of Cappadocia and Lesser Armenia.  On his journey to prison, Blaise saved the life of a child who had a fishbone lodged in his throat. He was beaten and flayed alive with iron combs for carding wool, and then beheaded for refusing to renounce his faith in Christ.

He is a well-known Saint who is venerated in the West and in the East, by both the Catholic and the Orthodox Church. He is invoked for sore throats.

Moreover, Blaise, is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, who are invoked for healing specific illnesses. He is venerated in many Italian cities and towns, of which he is also the Patron Saint. It is a tradition, on the day of his liturgical feast, to bless the throats of the faithful with two crossed candles.