The story of Saint Blaise
Posted on by Fay Curtis.
by Kate Iles, curator of archaeology
The Blaise Estate is named after Saint Blaise and today (3 February) is his feast day.
Saint Blaise was the Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia (modern Turkey) around 1,700 years ago. There are many versions of his life but he is best known for healing the sick – even animals would come to him to be cured.
Some accounts tell of how Saint Blaise left Sebaste to escape persecution. He made his home in a mountain cave and lived there, surrounded by wild animals, until he was found, brought back to Sebaste and arrested.
On his way to prison, Saint Blaise met a mother whose son was choking to death on a fish bone. He cured the boy and to show her gratitude, the mother brought candles to light his prison cell. In another version of the story, Saint Blaise met a woman whose pig had been taken by a wolf. He commanded the wolf to return the pig and it was this woman who brought the candles for his cell.
In prison, Saint Blaise was ordered to renounce his faith. He refused so was beaten with wool combs and beheaded. After his death, he was made a saint and has become the patron saint of wool combers, wild animals, candle makers and ailments of the throat.
Saint Blaise was a popular saint in medieval England, probably due to the connection with wool combing and the wool trade, which was an important industry at the time. A number of churches, chapels and a holy well were dedicated to him.
One of these chapels is shown on early maps of Bristol and Gloucestershire. According to tradition, this chapel was positioned on top of Blaise Hill (where Blaise Castle now stands). Excavations in 1918 and in 1957 revealed the foundations of a building, which many believe to be remains of the chapel. A number of these green glazed ceramic roof tiles were found across the site.
An earlier chapel, dedicated to Saint Werburgha, is also recorded nearby but its exact location is unknown. Some suggest they were the same building and that Saint Blaise simply replaced Saint Weburgha as the chapel’s dedication. Saint Weburgha’s feast day is also on the 3 February.
Images:
- Stained glass windows depicting the life of St Blaise © Musee du Louvre, OAR 504
- St Blaise, engraving 1599, BM 1951,0407.128 © Trustees of the British Museum
- Medieval roof tile fragments © Bristol Culture
- An aerial view of the Blaise Estate and Blaise Museum.
- Saxton Map of Gloucestershire (1577) © The British Library Board Royal MS.18.D.111.f.97
16 comments on “The story of Saint Blaise”
Today 3rd Feb is my birthday. Blaise Estate was my childhood playground until I left school and Henbury in 1961. My best memories of growing up Centre around Blaise Estate. Attended Mass today to celebrate St Blaise on my birthday.
Hi have fond memories of Blaise Castle as well, I was born in 1950 and lived near Westbury on Trym Cricket Ground and we were always going to Blaise Castle on our adventures to the Witches Hut, Butchers Cave and the Giant Gorham Footprint and of course every year the Giant Gorhams Fair.
Was looking for more information of St. Blaise’s connection with the healing of throats… as I’m taking my friend with me tonight for the blessing of throats. She’s a Mormon , and has a thyroid growth that I hope gets cured.
How nice to have a birthday on February the third. St. Blaise was a great Saint. Our Priest, Father Baker used to give us St, Blaise’s blessing with 2candles.
The link:
https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/blaise-castle-house-museum/
is broken
Thanks for letting us know. This is now fixed.
In the story of Saint Blaise, who brought candles to light his prison cell as a gesture of gratitude: the mother whose son was cured from choking on a fish bone or the woman whose pig was returned by a wolf?
Thank you so much for the ST. BLAISE information,
I’m thankful for my parents to name me Blaise after st Blaise
This is among the best days in a year that l celebrate alot in my life
I just received a blessing of st blaze at la salette shrine, today! When I came home I looked him up bc I wasn’t sure I heard the name right. Also had the chance to see and touch the ‘cross of gratitude(,which was made in Ukraine by 2 men who received separate visions), now on its way to L.A.
Rochdale Town Hall’s old Council Chamber features a painting of St. Blase as an inset to a depiction of Josue Heilmann, inventor of a textile combing machine. Presumably this is because he is patron saint of wool combers. Rather gruesomely, he is holding an example of the nailed comb which was involved in his martyrdom!
I like all the comments here and have been researching my ancestor St. Blaise.My last name is Blessing which means son of Blaise but have yet to go to the Castle in England and all the places dedicated to the Great Saint.May his intersessions be with us all.
I am a lay Catholic preacher in Uganda. Today I’m preaching about St. Blaise at Vincentian Prayer Center. Thanks for the information.
Thank you this really helped
Thank you this really helped.
Do people actually get health blessing ?? I need to visit this place for vision…