St. Blaise was torn with hooks and beheaded by order of Agricolaus, governor of Cappadocia. According to tradition, he was made a bishop at an early age and retired to a cave during the persecution of Licinius. Among his legendary miracles is included the cure of a boy with a fishbone in his throat. On this account he was invoked for all throat trouble; his intercession is supplicated on his feast, when throats are blessed, lighted candles being placed against the throat while a short prayer is recited. In the Latin Church his feast is February 3; in the Greek Church, February 11.