Blaise of Caesarea

Holy Martyr Blaise of Caesarea in Cappadocia (Boukol) was a shepherd and suffered for Christ in the third century.

The name Boukol means in Greek "herdsman of oxen". When the persecution began, Blaise gave himself of his own will into the hands of the tormentors. They began to beat him with ox sinews, but the Lord healed his wounds. Then he was thrown into a cauldron of boiling water, but remained unharmed. The pagan soldiers who saw the miracle believed in Jesus Christ. The governor, to show that the martyr had received no harm because the water had cooled, threw himself into the cauldron and died.

After he had brought many to faith in Christ, Saint Blaise gave up his soul in peace to God. His shepherd's staff was planted in the ground and grew into a huge tree, whose branches covered the altar of the church built over his relics.

The saint is commemorated on 16 February, in the new style.