Saint Blaise of Sebaste, known as san Biagio
He was born, lived and died in 316, it is said, in Armenia. He was a doctor when he was chosen bishop of Sebaste in Cappadocia (Turkey). He made a cave on Mount Argée his episcopal residence and healed both men and wild beasts there. He was then noticed by the governor of Cappadocia who needed wild animals for the circus games. He has Saint Blaise arrested and tries to drown him in a pond. But Blaise walks on water,during the trial, he refused to renounce their Christian faith; the penalty was torn with iron combs, which are used for carding wool. he died beheaded.
St. Blaise's body was buried in Sebaste Cathedral. in 732 part of his mortal remains, deposited in a marble urn, were launched, to be brought to Rome. A storm ceased sailing to the coast of Maratea, where the members received the urn containing the relics - the sacred chest and other body parts - and kept in Basilica di Maratea, on Monte San Biagio. The chapel ofs relics was then placed under the protection of the Royal Curia by King Philip IV of Habsburg, with a genuine letter dated December 23, 1629 and since then it has been generally known as the Royal Chapel.
othersrelics rest in the Saint-Eucaire church, in the center of Metz. They have been attracting pilgrims for six centuries because of their reputation for curing sore throats. The tradition, still alive, wants to have bread rolls blessed. Then we eat one, keep one in a cupboard to protect the house, and offer the others to the sick or relatives.
