St. Blaise's Day; 3 February

 St. Blaise's day, Procession of his relics in Dubrovnik 

St. Blaise healing the choking boy with candles

St. Blase was the bishop of Sebastea in Armenia, now Turkey, who died a martyr in 316. Blaise was born into a wealthy family and was consecrated bishop a ta young age. Not long after his consecration, Christian persecutions reached Armenia, and Blaise was forced into the mountains with many other Christians to escape death. Little is known of him, apart from his eighth century Vita. He was known to Christians to have healed humans and animals alike; the most remembered cure being his healing of a boy with a fish-bone caught in his throat. After being healed, the boy often brought food and candles to the cave where Blaise was hiding and later to the jail where he would be held captive. This is why he is invoked against any kind of throat illnesses, and on St. Blaise's day, it is not uncommon for churches to bless peoples throats with two crossed candles. In 316, Blaise was captured by the Roman governor, recognized as a Christian bishop, and sentenced to death. Blaise was tortured with wool-combs before being beheaded, which is why he was patronized by the English wool industry. He is venerated as a Saint in the Anglican, Orthodox, Armenian, and Roman churches. Canterbury claimed relics in the Middle Ages, as well as St. Blaise Cathedral in Dubrovnik, Croatia.