The Feast of St. Blaise is celebrated on Feb. 3 or Feb. 11 in the Eastern Church. St. Blaise was a 4th-century Armenian bishop, physician and martyr. People – and even animals – reportedly flocked to this pious bishop to be cured of their ailments. The Acts of St. Blaise were written 400 years after his death and are widely regarded to have embellished some of the stories surrounding this popular saint. Legend has it that as he was being led away to be imprisoned and eventually martyred – or while he was in prison, depending on the version told – a mother presented him with her young son who was choking on a fish bone. At Blaise’s command, the child coughed up the bone. Today, we honor his feast by having our throats blessed by a priest to help protect them from disease. Two candles are blessed, held crossed together, and pressed against the throat as the prayer of protection is said.