ST. BLASIUS – 1700 YEARS FROM THE MARTYR’S DEATH OF ST. BLASIUS

Dubrovnik and St. Blasius are inseparable notions and his omnipresence is one of the mail determinants of the identity of Dubrovnik. The patron of the city, physician, bishop and a martyr from the Armenian Sebaste is worshiped throughout Europe and in the world, but nowhere with so much enthusiasm as in Dubrovnik which - according to a legend - proclaimed him its patron in 971, when he warned Dubrovnik about the threatening danger from Venetians. He was also chosen as confirmation of independence of church and communal and state self-awareness, thus founding the cultural space of Dubrovnik on his strength and the symbolism of his heavenly authority. The cult and the celebration of St. Blasius in a historic continuity from the 10th century, according to the legend, i.e. from the 12th century, according to historic documents, have until today preserved its traditional and recognisable excellent features and quality of expression. This is a millennium old Dubrovnik tradition, a Celebration of the Patron on 3 February, the favourite celebration with rich ceremony culminating in a magnificent procession, which inclusion into the UNESCO World List of Intangible Material Heritage speaks for itself. St. Blasius, in Armenian Surp Vlasi, in Latin Sanctus Blasius, and only in Dubrovnik speech Sveti Vlaho, lived in the 3rd century, was physician by vocation, then bishop in the antique Sebaste (today Turkish Sivas) in Small Armenia. Here he died in February 316 by martyr's death, in prosecutions of the emperor Licinius. The soldiers arrested him in a cave in Cappadocia where he was hiding surrounded by wild animals which were bringing him food, while he was healing them in return. He was martyred with an iron wool comb and thrown into a lake and finally decapitated. It is believed that 3 February 316 is the date of his death. He is evoked against throat ache because - according to a legend – he healed a child which had a fishbone stuck in his throat. He is the patron of otorinolaryngologists, veterinaries, shepherds and wool producers, as well as wild animals. Maja Nodari