Saint Blaise lived in Sebaste and was beheaded in 316.
Saint Blaise of Sebaste was a man who knew how to combine religious activities (he was a bishop) with the practice of medicine. He lived in Sebaste (territory currently known as Sivas ), in Cappadocia (today, part of Turkey ). This individual led a hermitical existence and spent his days in a cave located in the wooded area of Mount Argeus , a place that by his will ended up transformed into an episcopal see. Saint Blaise lost his life on February 3, 316 .
Spain is one of the countries in the world where there is the most fervor for this religious figure, which is why there are many cities and towns that celebrate festivals in his honor when February 3 arrives. This would be the case, for example, of Candelaria in Tenerife , of Marmolejo in Jaén or of Milagro in Navarra .
However, it is true that other countries that are also very devoted to San Blas are Paraguay , Costa Rica or Croatia .
Saint Blaise's ability to heal
Tradition indicates that Saint Blaise enjoyed great popularity for his ability to heal miraculously , a practice with which he benefited mainly human beings but also various animals. On one occasion, Saint Blaise saved a child who was choking on a fish bone: for this reason, he is currently the patron saint of experts in laryngology and ailments linked to the throat . Even when a person is drowning, Saint Blaise is usually invoked.
More precisely, when the little ones of any family are sick due to throat problems, in many places where there is still devotion to this figure in question, it is common to say this prayer to get their attention: “Blessed Saint Blaise, who drowns.” the little angel.”
However, they will not be the only phrases that were expressed out loud so that this saint could intercede for the health of a patient suffering from the aforementioned condition. Among other well-known ones is the following: “Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, may God free you from throat ailments.”
In Panama there is an archipelago called San Blas.
The confrontation with Agricola
It is said that, when the Roman Agricola (who served as governor in Cappadocia ) undertook a persecution against the Christians in Sebaste , his hunters went to look for animals for the sand games on Mount Argeus . Suddenly they saw many animals gathered outside a cave, where they found Blas praying and arrested him.
Agricola tried to get Blas to renounce his faith, but he did not succeed. On the other hand, while he was detained, Blas was able to heal several prisoners who were sick. It was then that the governor made the decision to kill him, throwing him into a lake. Saint Blaise managed to stand on the surface of the water (a miracle that was also attributed to Jesus Christ ) and called on his persecutors to do the same, to demonstrate the power of their gods. However, they all drowned.
By order of an angel, Saint Blaise returned to land, where he was tortured (he was hung from a pole and lacerated with plow rakes) and beheaded .
Specifically, we have to emphasize that this saint would meet his death in the year 316 when his head was cut off. A death that did not end the set of miracles that he would work in life and these continued among all those people who prayed and asked him. So much so that, for example, in the Italian country no more and no less than thirty-five churches and hermitages were built in his honor.