Memorial
     3 February

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     Physician. Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia. Lived in a cave on Mount Argeus. Healer of men and animals; according to legend, sick animals would come to him on their own for help, but would never disturb him at prayer.

     Agricola, governor of Cappadocia, came to Sebaste to persecute Christians. His huntsmen went into the forests of Argeus to find wild animals for the arena games, and found many waiting outside Blaise's cave. Discovered in prayer, Blaise was arrested, and Agricola tried to get him to recant his faith. While in prison, Blaise ministered to and healed fellow prisoners, including saving a child who was choking on a fish bone; this led to the blessing of throats on Blaise's feast day.

     Thrown into a lake to drown, Blaise stood on the surface and invited his persecutors to walk out and prove the power of their gods; they drowned. When he returned to land, he was martyred by being beaten, his flesh torn with wool combs (which led to his association with and patronage of those involved in the wool trade), and then beheading.

     Blaise has been extremely popular for centuries in both the Eastern and Western Churches. In 1222 the Council of Oxford prohibited servile labour in England on his feast. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers

Born
     Armenian

Died
     flesh torn by iron wool-combs, then beheaded c.316

Canonized
     Pre-Congregation

Patronage
    against coughs
    against goitres
    against throat diseases
    against whooping cough
    against wild beasts
    Anguillara Sabazia, Italy
    animals
    Bovolone, Italy
    builders
    Camastra, Sicily, Italy
    carvers
    Cassano allo Ionio, Italy
    Castellania, Italy
    construction workers
    Dalmatia
    Doues, Italy
    Dubrovnik, Croatia
    healthy throats
    Militello, Sicily, Italy
    Montecatini Val di Cecina, Italy
    Palombara Sabina, Italy
    Pietrasanta, Italy
    Sacrofano, Italy
    stonecutters
    veterinarians
    wool-combers
    wool weavers