They say he was once a doctor

but that caring for souls attracted him more.

In time, he came to be a bishop.

This doctor-turned-bishop, however, was still a healer. They said that he once even miraculously cured a boy who was choking to death.

But the bishop cared little for his own neck.

Blaise, Bishop of the Armenian town of Sebaste (in modern-day Turkey), was martyred near the beginning of the 4th century.

He is remembered every year on this day by the blessing of throats.

(from a previous post)