Children's Web Magazine

Saint Blaise is known as the patron saint of sore throats. His feast day is on the 3rd February. This is rather appropriate as it is in the winter time that people are more likely to
get throat infections. Candles are blessed and when they touch a person's throat God is asked to cure anyone with a throat infection.
Saint Blaise was a doctor and became the bishop of Sebaste in Armenia. He is believed to have saved a child from choking on a fish bone.
He is said to have cured animals and lived in a cave among wild animals. He lived in the cave to escape persecution by the Emperor Licinius. It is said he was discovered when the Emperor's men were out searching for wild animals. They wanted the animals for the games that would be held in an arena to entertain the Emperor. The men saw the animals round the cave. It appears that by being there the animals with out knowing it gave him away.
Saint Blaise was taken away and tortured for his beliefs however his faith remained strong. He was beheaded in 316.
He seems to have had an understanding and instinct for animals which was mutual. As he once told a wolf to let go of the pig it had. The wolf obeyed him and the pig was reunited with its owner unharmed.
He is the patron saint of Armenia and the Croatian city Dubrovnik.
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