Armenian Saint Blaise (Sourb Barsegh)

Saint Blaise 4th c. (Armenian : Sourb Barsegh) In Christian legend, bishop, patron saint of physicians, wax chandlers, and wool combers. Invoked against throat infections. Feast, 3 February.

Blaise was a physician before he became a bishop in Armenia. He studied philosophy in his youth, was a doctor in Sebaste in Armenia, the city of his birth, and exercised his art with miraculous ability, good-will, and piety. When the bishop of the city died, he was chosen to succeed him, with the acclamation of all the people. His holiness was manifest through many miracles: from all around, people came to him to find cures for their spirit and their body; even wild animals came in herds to receive his blessing. He suffered beheading after his flesh was torn with iron combs used for carding wool. One legend tells that while the bishop was in prison awaiting his martyrdom, he miraculously cured a little boy who nearly died because a fish bone was stuck in his throat.

During the Middle Ages, St. Blaise was one of the most popular saints. In central Europe and in Latin countries people are still given pan bendito (St. Blaise sticks), which they eat when they have a sore throat. One of the most popular customs of the Roman church is the blessing of throats, held on St. Blaise’s feast day. A priest holds crossed candles against the head or throat of a person, saying: “Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may the Lord free you from evils of the throat and from any other evil.” In certain parts of Italy priests touch the throats with a wick that has been dipped into blessed oil. Throughout Europe many places and churches ware named after him. In Cornwall UK the village of St Blazey derives from his name, where the parish church is still dedicated to Saint Blaise. The council of Oxford in 1222 forbade all work on his festival. There is a St. Blaise’s Well in Bromley, Kent (UK) where the water was considered to have medicinal virtues. Many German churches, including the former Abbey of St. Blasius in the Black Forest and the church of Balve are dedicated to Saint Blaise/Blasius. In Italy he is known as San Biagio. In Spanish-speaking countries, he is known as San Blas, and has lent his name to many places (see San Blas).Saint Blaise’s remains rest at the Basilica over the town of Maratea (Italy), shipwrecked there during Leo III the Isaurian’s iconoclastic persecutions.

Cult of Saint Blaise

He is the patron of the Armenian Order of Saint Blaise. The Order of St. Blaise was founded in Armenia in the 12th century and takes its name from Saint Blaise, patron of the kingdom. It was divided into religious, who were charged with the holy offices and missionary work among the unbelievers, and the fighters, who defended the country against the attacks of the Muslims. It rendered great services for a century and only disappeared when Armenia was conquered by the Turks. The name has also been used by various pseudo-chivalric orders.

According to Thomas Robson (The British Herald, 1830), the order was also called the Order of St. Bass.

His cult became widespread in Europe in the 11th and 12th centuries. St. Blaise is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers or Auxiliary Saints and his legend is recounted in the 14th-century Legenda Aurea.

Sources:

The Facts On File Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend (2009)

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Blaise

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Saint_Blaise