The miraculous physician who survived the iron combs of martyrdom

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before he was a bishop, Saint Blaise was a doctor of remarkable healing powers. From curing a choking child to tending to wild animals, his legendary life transitioned from medical practice to a violent martyrdom under the Roman Emperor Licinius.

Born in Sebastia, Cappadocia, Blaise was a physician of noble birth who eventually rose to become the bishop of Sebastia in historical Lesser Armenia. His reputation for healing was so profound that, according to legend, wild animals would approach him in herds to seek his blessing. This dual legacy of healing both the body and the spirit earned him a place among the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a group of saints revered for their powerful intercession.

His life took a dramatic turn during the persecutions ordered by Emperor Licinius. The governor of Cappadocia, Agricola, arrested Blaise, leading to a series of brutal events. While being led to prison, Blaise reportedly performed a miracle by curing a boy who was choking on a fish bone. Despite this, he was subjected to severe scourging and torture with iron combs—the tools of wool combers—before finally being beheaded around 316 AD.

The veneration of Saint Blaise has persisted for centuries across different traditions. By the 6th century, the Eastern church recognized him as a patron for those suffering from throat ailments, while the Western church adopted this role by the 9th century. Today, his feast day is celebrated on February 3 in the Latin Church and February 11 in Eastern Churches. In many places, his blessing is still observed through the consecration of candles or the use of oil to touch the throats of the faithful.

While much of his life is documented through tradition, some accounts, such as the Acts of St. Blaise, are considered apocryphal and were written approximately 400 years after his death.

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