According to the legends St. Blaise was bishop of Sebaste, in the province of Cappadocia. Because he saved a body who had a fish bone lodged in his throat, he was adopted as the patron saint of throat ailments. After he was arrested and tortured with iron combs, seven women followers were hanged and torn to pieces with iron hooks. St. Blaise was then beheaded along with two small children of one of the women.
Feast day: February 3 in the West, Feb. 11 in the Eastern Churches
At left, from a portable altar of the 11th century.
Hagiography:
Menu