St. Blaise

St. Blaise was, according to tradition, a bishop of Sebastea in Armenia who was martyred in the early fourth century, most likely under the persecution of the Emperor Licinius about the year 316. Though the historical record of his life is slight and the surviving accounts are late, his veneration spread widely in both East and West, and he came to be numbered among the Fourteen Holy Helpers invoked in time of need.

He is remembered above all for a miracle related in his legend: while being led to martyrdom, he saved a boy who was choking to death on a fishbone. From this arose the enduring custom of the Blessing of Throats on his feast day, in which the priest holds two crossed candles at the throat of the faithful and invokes St. Blaise for protection against ailments of the throat and other ills. He is a patron of those with throat maladies and, by tradition, of wool-combers, and is celebrated on 3 February.