<p>St. Blaise was a physician, and Bishop of Sebastea in historical Armenia, now modern day Sivas, Turkey.&nbsp; According to early Church records, he was martyred by being beaten and then beheaded. &nbsp; He blessed throats and effected many miracles according to his hagiography.&nbsp; Many times he is pictured with crossed candles, and they are still used to bless the throats of the faithful on the Feast of St. Blaise today. &nbsp;</p> <p>The first reference we have to him is in manuscripts of the medical writings of Aetius Amidenus, a court physician of the very end of the 5^th century.&nbsp; It is in these writings that his aid was invoked for treating objects stuck in the throat.&nbsp; He cured animals and lived in a cave.&nbsp; Legend tells us that before he was martyred, he spoke to a wolf and told him to release a pig it was intending to harm, and the wolf listened.&nbsp; St. Blaise was going to be starved but the owner of the pig secretly gave him food in order to survive. &nbsp; Eventually he was tortured and beaten with wool combs and then beheaded for his Christian Faith.&nbsp; He died in the year 316. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>St. Blaise&rsquo;s following became widespread in Europe in the 11^th and 12^th centuries.&nbsp; St. Blaise is also one of the &ldquo;Fourteen Holy Helpers&rdquo; or Auxiliary Saints and his legend is recounted in the 14^th century &ldquo;Legenda Aurea&rdquo;. &nbsp; He is also the Patron of the Armenia Order of Saint Blaise.&nbsp; St. Blaise&rsquo;s remains rest at the Basilica in the town of Maratea, Italy.&nbsp; His holiness was made manifest through many miracles, from all over, people would come to him to find cures.&nbsp; He cured them both body and spirit.&nbsp; Even wild animals came in herds to receive his blessing. &nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Practical Take Away</strong></span></p> <p>St. Blaise was a physician and also a Bishop in the early Christian Church.&nbsp; He had a strong faith, and his holiness was made manifest through many miracles.&nbsp; He was noted for blessing throats, and specialized in saving people from choking to death on fish bones.&nbsp; He holiness not only drew people from all around to be healed in body and soul, but also animals would come in herds to receive his blessing.&nbsp; He refused to denounce the faith, and was beaten and beheaded as a martyr for the faith in the year 316. &nbsp;</p>