Saint of the Issue: St. Blaise of Sebaste

St. Blaise was born in the Armenian city of Sebaste in the late third century; he was both a martyr and a healer. St. Blaise has been a popular figure of devotion since his execution in 316 AD.

Though little is known about St. Blaise, it is known that he was a physician in his hometown of Sebaste—an important regional center in the Roman province of Lesser Armenia. At an uncertain time, St. Blaise decided to dedicate his life to the spiritual health of others.

Blaise became renowned for various miraculous healings, and people from across the region went to Sebaste to seek his treatment, spiritual advice, and prayers. For this reason, St. Blaise is counted among the “Fourteen Helpers”—various saints whose intercessions are associated with healing and protection from various illnesses.

One particular tradition attributed to St. Blaise is the Blessing of the Throats, in which a priest will use a sacramental composed of two candles crossed at an angle to bless the recipient’s throat.

The Blessing of the Throats harkens back to St. Blaise’s life when he was being escorted to his execution and a woman approached him and brought forward her son who was suffocating from a fish bone and was near death. St. Blaise blessed the boy’s throat and he immediately recovered.

Many parts of the world have their own unique traditions surrounding the Blessing of the Throats. In most European countries lit candles are used in the ritual, whereas in St. Blaise’s home country, Armenia, the recipient’s neck is anointed with oil.

St. Blaise is also well known for the blessing of animals. According to hagiographers, the grace emanating from the saint would attract animals to him, who would seek him out on their own initiative and receive his prayers.

Because of the many holy acts attributed to St. Blaise, and because of his pious example, he was made bishop of Sebaste. According to tradition, St. Blaise’s investment as bishop was followed by a plethora of miracles in and around the surrounding region.

Eventually, St. Blaise’s reputation caught the attention of the authorities. During this period of persecution under Emperor Licinius, many Christians were forced to either renounce their faith or were put to death. St. Blaise was no exception.

On the orders of Licinius, the governor of Lesser Armenia, Agricolaus, had St. Blaise arrested. Agricolaus was impressed by the miracles performed by the saint, but in keeping with his superior’s directives and unable to convince St. Blaise to deny his faith in God, he had him executed.

According to legend, prior to his execution St. Blaise was tortured with tools that resembled wool combs, and for this reason, St. Blaise is the patron saint of wool combers, animals, and throat illnesses.

The devotional popularity of St. Blaise, as with most of the Fourteen Helpers, reached its zenith in the Middle Ages, which can be attested to by the numerous Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches named after him throughout Armenia and Asia Minor.

As a healer, bishop, and a martyr, St. Blaise teaches us the importance of service as well as how we glorify God in the aid we render to others and through the devotion we have to our faith, even when faced with death.

St. Blaise, pray for us.