Prayer to Hieromartyr Blasius, Bishop of Sebastia

11/24.2. - Memory of St. Blaise († c. 316), patron of animals

St. Blaise of Sebastia ( † c. 316) is the bishop of the city of Sebastia in the Roman province of Cappadocia in Asia Minor (now Sivas), revered among the holy martyrs.

According to the Acts of the Saints, the Hieromartyr Blasius lived in the city of Sebastia, which under the Emperor Diocletian became the administrative center of the province of Armenia Minor. From his youth, Blasius was distinguished by his pious life, was a doctor and, at the request of the residents, was appointed bishop of Sebaste. During the great persecution of Christians under the emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Licinius (307-324), St. Blasius consoled the church people and visited the martyrs in prison. Fearing for the life of their bishop, the believers asked him to take refuge in a cave in the mountains of Argos to pray for them. There's St. Vlasiy no longer cared only about people, but also about the animals that came to him, who responded to him with obedience and love. Wild animals obeyed St. in everything. Blasius and received blessings and healing from illnesses from him.

One day, the local ruler Agricola ordered hunters to gather as many wild animals as possible in the mountains to torture Christians. The hunters noticed a strange concentration of animals near one cave. Entering it, they saw Blasius praying. The animals waited for the saint to come out as usual to bless and heal them. Having returned, Agricola's servants informed the ruler about this, and he ordered Blasius to be brought to him. Blasius joyfully came out to meet them, saying that that night the Lord called him three times with the words: “Rise and offer Me a sacrifice, as befits you by your title of bishop.”

On the way to Sebastia St. Blasius performed healings and other miracles. On the way, a poor widow came to him, whose only pig was stolen by a wolf. The saint calmed her down and with his prayers after a while the wolf in his teeth brought the live piglet back to the widow.

In Sebastia, the saint was subjected to the most severe public torture, with which the local ruler unsuccessfully tried to break his faith and convert him to paganism. Surprised by the faith of the saint, the widow sacrificed the pig that had been returned to her, cooked it and took the treat to Blasius in prison, where he was locked up. Blasius accepted the modest gift, tasting the food, and blessed the woman to commemorate him every year. This is how the custom arose on St. Blasius to bring candles and incense to church, gather in the houses of fellow believers and give alms to the poor and wretched, wrote St. Demetrius of Rostov.

Saint Blaise of Sebaste suffered martyrdom around 316. Before his execution, the saint prayed to God for the forgiveness of his own and other people’s sins, as well as for the granting of help to everyone who would remember Blasius. At that moment, according to life, a bright cloud descended on him, from which a voice was heard: “I will fulfill all your requests, my beloved ascetic.”

According to legend, the body of Saint Blaise was buried with honors by a pious woman named Elissa at the place of the saint’s execution. According to legend, healings of Christians took place at the saint’s tomb. The relics of the saint were in Sebastia, but during the time of iconoclasm in 732 (or later by the crusaders) they were transferred to the Italian city of Maratea, whose patron saint Blasius is still considered. From there, particles of the relics of St. Blasius were transferred to many churches in different European countries. Many cities and villages in Europe are named in honor of the Hieromartyr Blaise. The name of the saint is popular in France, Italy and Slavic countries. Saint Blaise is especially revered in the Croatian Dubrovnik; here a temple is consecrated in his honor, where the head of the saint is located.

In both the Western and Eastern Christian traditions, St. Blasius is considered the patron saint of domestic and wild animals, since, according to his life, he blessed and healed the animals that came to him. The motif of patronage of animals is reflected in the iconography of St. Blaise.

Blaise of Sevastia blesses a herd of cows. Fragment of a 15th century icon. Russian Museum

In the Slavic folk tradition, St. Vlasiy is the patron saint of cattle, ideas about which go back to the image of the Slavic cattle god Volos. The combination of the images of a pagan deity and a Christian saint in the popular consciousness was probably facilitated by the sound similarity of their names. With the adoption of Christianity in Rus', St. Blasius was popularly called the “cow god”, and the day of his memory was called the “cow holiday”. In Novgorod, on Vlasiev day, cow butter was brought to his image. On the day of St. Blaise (“horse holy”), Belarusians rode young horses and had a special meal. In eastern Serbia (Budjak), Vlasiev day was considered a holiday of oxen and cattle; oxen were not harnessed on this day. In Rus', with the adoption of Christianity, churches of St. Blaise were often erected in places of pagan worship of Volos.

The first temple in Rus', dedicated to Saint Blaise, was founded by Grand Duke Vladimir immediately after the Baptism of Rus' in Podol. The temple existed until the 16th century; now in its place is the Church of the Presentation, one of the altars of which was consecrated in honor of Blaise of Sebaste. In Moscow on the Arbat in the 17th century, the stone Temple of the Hieromartyr Blasius was built in Staraya Konyushennaya Sloboda. In the Orthodox Church the memory of St. Blaise is celebrated on February 11 according to the Julian calendar.

See also: Why animals were created by God

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Prayer

To make a request, you can use both special texts and pronounce everything in your own words.
The main requirement is that they must come from a pure heart. Most often they recite a prayer for sore throats to Blaise of Sebaste. It contains the following text: It is worth remembering that before asking for something, it is advisable to thank the Lord for what he has already given us. So we will win over the saint

It is also important that our requests will not be fulfilled immediately. Everything depends on the strength of our faith

You can read these texts both in churches and at home. You can concentrate on the text as much as possible if you are alone and look at the face of the saint.

You can visit the temple and listen to the Akathist to the Hieromartyr Blaise of Sebaste. And in a candle shop you can buy a prayer book with its text, which you can read.

But if you are ready to do anything for healing, then you should take advantage of this opportunity. After all, it is precisely those miracles that he performed during his lifetime that give hope for improvement of the situation to those suffering from terrible illnesses for a long time.

God bless you!

You will also be interested in watching a video story about the holy bishop:

Icons

Reading rules

Through prayer, a person comes to understand what love for God and mercy for other people means. One who reads prayers regularly lives in Divine joy and has eternal blessing. The rules for reading prayers to Saint Blaise are simple, do not require special preparation, but help everyone who trusts him.

• They often go to church with requests. All the decoration of the church, sacred rituals, and temple chants help a person to immerse himself in the mystery of faith, experience unconditional love and spiritual awe. You should light a candle at the icon of the holy martyr and sincerely pray to him.
• If it is not possible to go to church, you can indulge in prayer at home. It is advisable to have an image of a saint; together with prayer, this will help not only people, but also pets to constantly be under the protection of Higher powers. You need to light a candle in front of the icon and read the prayer sincerely, slowly, with feeling.
• Any prayer, as theologians say, heals not only the body, but also the soul. To do this, it must become continuous, that is, repeated day after day and accompany the believer throughout his life.
• The prayer can be repeated many times. Rosary beads are used for this. By sorting through them, a person enters a state of Divine presence. This helps remove all extraneous thoughts from your head.

Prayers addressed to the Hieromartyr Blasius never go unanswered. You just need to believe in the miracle of healing and be grateful for what life is already filled with.

Life of a Saint

Almost nothing is known about his early years. It was first mentioned during the reign of Diocletian. It was marked by persecution of Christians and cruel treatment of them. Many believers died from cruel torment because of his activities. Some records say that he lived in Lesser Armenia and was engaged in healing. He earned people's respect for his work. When the question of who would occupy the position of bishop was decided, the majority agreed that this was his place.

This is how the righteous life of Blasius of Sebastia began. At that time, accepting this rank was quite dangerous. He was very worried about everyone; one hundred suffered for their faith in Christ. Trying to help, he visited them in places of detention. At the moment the situation escalated, he himself had to hide in a mountain cave.

There is a legend about how the gift of healing came to him. During his stay in the cave, he found peace and tranquility. One day, before entering a cave, he noticed a wounded wolf. He fell exhausted in front of them. Then the saint treated the wound and bandaged it. Then he went to prayer. The next day the wolf met him again. When the bandage was removed, not a trace remained. The predator bowed its head to his knees and then ran away. After that, all the animals came to him for treatment and he did not refuse anyone.

The hunters who were hired to catch the Christians noticed this and reported it to the king. He became furious. The Lord warned the saint that soldiers would come for him. He followed them. On the way to prison he performed two miracles. The bishop was tortured for a long time, but he did not renounce his faith. They wanted to drown him, but it didn’t work out. He walked on water as if on land. After that he returned and died from the executioner.

For a long time the relics remained on the territory of Sevastia. During the Crusades they were transported to Europe. Most of them are in Maratea, but you can find small pieces in other temples. But the image of a saint also has power. Therefore, reading a prayer to Blaise of Sebastia from animal diseases and other ailments will help to heal.

What do they pray to the saint for?

When addressing a saint, gratitude should come first. And only then you can ask for assistance.

• People turn to him if their pets are sick or need help during the birth of livestock.
• The saint helps those people who are overtaken by illness.
• Prayers addressed to the holy martyr relieve need. He who reads them will always have enough food for his family.
• They ask the miracle worker to help tame animals and find mutual understanding with them.

Prayer for a sore throat

We advise you to read the prayer for a sore throat with several options in Russian, with a full description and pictures.

Hieromartyr Blaise of Sebastia

(Saint Blaise himself prayed to God to grant him the grace to heal diseases of the throat and the danger of being strangled with a bone.)

Blessed and ever-memorable Hieromartyr Blasius, wondrous sufferer and warm representative of ours, after your departure into eternal life, assist those who call upon your holy name, and promise to be heard in all petitions! Behold, now to you, the saint of God, as to the true intercessor of salvation, we come and humbly pray: come to our aid, bound by the bonds of sins, move to your omnipotent prayers to God and pray for us sinners: for you are unworthy, we dare to call for your intercession, and We wish you to receive liberation from all our sins. O holy saint of God Blasie! In the contrition and humility of our hearts, we fall before you and pray: shine upon us, darkened by the slander of the enemy, with the light of grace from above, so that walking in it, we will not stumble our feet on a stone. You, as a vessel chosen in honor and filled with the grace of God, we pray: grant us sinners the desired acceptance from your fulfillment, and heal our mental and physical ulcers, and ask the Lord for forgiveness of our sins and for our mental and physical health and salvation that is beneficial, and always We glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your merciful intercession for our souls and bodies, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O great and glorious passion-bearer, our helper and warm intercessor of all who flow to you with faith, holy martyr Blasie! From the height of glory, look with your merciful eye on the people ahead and tenderly pray to you, extend your warm prayers to the Lord our God, ask Him for forgiveness of our sins, so that we can be delivered from the all-destroying plague, cowardice, flood, fire, sword and eternal punishment, intercede before the Throne of the Lord Almighty with our weak bodies for forgiveness of sins, but for all who honor your honorable memory, strengthening for good deeds, do not despise us unworthy, praying to you before your honorable icon and asking for your help and intercession, ask us for everything that is useful for our salvation, May our God-pleasing Lady Jesus Christ create here, through your prayers we will be worthy to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, where together with you we will glorify the One in the Trinity, the glorified God of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

You have received the inspiration of God in a vision of the sunrise: for this sake, correcting the word of truth and for the sake of faith, you have suffered even to the point of blood, Hieromartyr Blasie, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.

and about something completely different:

Prayers for sore throat

With these prayers you can turn to the saints to reduce sore throat and get rid of cough, sore throat and other similar diseases. You can pray for yourself, for your child and for any loved one.

We advise you to study Prayers against pride and conceit

Prayer to Blaise of Sevastia for a sore throat

Blessed and ever-memorable Hieromartyr Blasius, wondrous sufferer and warm representative of ours, after your departure into eternal life, assist those who call upon your holy name, and promise to be heard in all petitions!

Behold, now to you, saint of God, as to the true intercessor of salvation, we flow and humbly pray:

come to our aid, bound by the bonds of sins, move towards your all-powerful prayers to God and pray for us sinners:

Because you are unworthy, we dare to call you to intercession, and we wish you to receive liberation from all our sins.

O holy saint of God Blasie!

In the contrition and humility of our hearts, we fall before you and pray:

Shine upon us, darkened by the slander of the enemy, with the light of grace from above, so that as we walk in it, we will not stumble our feet on a stone.

To You, as a vessel chosen in honor and filled with the grace of God, we pray:

grant us sinners the desired acceptance from your fulfillment, and heal our mental and physical ulcers, and ask the Lord for forgiveness of our spiritual and physical health and salvation that is beneficial for our sins, so that we may always glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your merciful intercession for souls and all our bodies, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Troparion and Kontakion to the Hieromartyr Blaise of Sebaste

Troparion, tone 4

You have received the inspiration of God in a vision of the sunrise: for this sake, correcting the word of truth and for the sake of faith, you have suffered even to the point of blood, Hieromartyr Blasie, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.

Kontakion, tone 2

Divine vegetation, unfading flower, long-suffering vines of Christ, God-bearing Blasie: by faith, honoring your memory, fulfill your joy, praying unceasingly for all of us.

Kontakion, tone 8

You have adorned yourself with holy anointing and torment with blood, the glorious Blasie, and you shine everywhere in the highest, rejoicing, and looking down upon us who came to your temple, and in it you incessantly called to you: keep us all.

Is it possible to pray for animals?

One of the main purposes of prayer is a request for the salvation of the soul. But, according to most theologians, animals do not have souls (in the same sense as people). The Bible says that the spark of God is the most important advantage of man over other creatures that inhabit the Earth, and this is what explains the guardianship of people over animals (Genesis 1:26, 28; 2:19). So is it possible to pray for them? Yes, you can. This is not only not punished, but is also encouraged by church leaders. Sincere prayer for an animal is a manifestation of Christian virtues, and therefore it cannot be punished. There are examples of saints praying for animals in sacred texts. Thus, in the Psalter, the psalmist David utters the following words: “Save man and beast, O Lord.” If a pet gets sick, disappears or dies, then an Orthodox person can turn to the saints and great martyrs with prayer.

Orthodox churchmen especially focus on the fact that the earth suffers due to the fall of man, and not animals. Therefore, our responsibilities, according to the Christian tradition, also include caring for our little brothers, which includes prayers for their health

Who to pray for sick or missing pets

If your pet is missing, then they usually ask St. Gerasimos of Jordan for help. He is revered as the patron saint of all domesticated animals, especially cats. This is explained by the fact that in his life there are chapters describing Gerasim’s taming of a lion.

The tamed lion was named Jordan

Great Martyr Gregory is another patron of domestic animals. However, they traditionally pray to him for the health and fertility of livestock. However, the church does not prohibit praying to this saint for a cat or dog. At the same time, it is customary to sprinkle the pet’s forehead with holy water. After all, rockets and cars are sprayed with it, so why are animals any worse? Traditionally, a prayer to Gregory is offered on April 23, the day of remembrance, but this is not a mandatory requirement. You can turn to the saint on any day you see fit.

The martyrs Florus and Laurus are also considered saints who care for animals. In Rus' they were revered as patrons of horses, but now their “competence” in Orthodox culture has expanded to include all pets.

Martyrs Florus and Laurus suffered from persecution in Illyricum

The Orthodox Church clearly supports prayers for animals, both living and dead. Caring for pets and genuine concern for their fate are encouraged, not punished.

Is it possible to pray for animals: an Orthodox view

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Animals are an integral part of the nature of the world around us. According to Orthodox doctrine, the entire created world was created by the Lord, therefore animals are God's creation. A person is called not only to personal sanctification and holiness; through personal grace, a Christian must ennoble and equip the world around him and everything that is in it. Therefore, the Orthodox Church does not prohibit praying for animals. In addition, a person’s personal well-being depends on the health status of, for example, livestock. This is especially true for people involved in livestock farming.

It is worth separating prayer for living and dead animals. It is not customary in the Orthodox tradition to commemorate dead animals. There is an opinion of the holy fathers that all dead animals will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, because their nature was not distorted by sin (as happened to humans).

There is evidence in the Bible that the righteous man cares for the lives of his livestock, but the heart of the wicked is hard towards him (Prov. 12:10). Caring for animals can be expressed in prayer. Many Orthodox prayer books contain special prayers read during illness and death of livestock. In addition, in Orthodox churches there is a practice of ordering special prayers during a cattle pestilence. A person, out of necessity and justification, can safely begin to do all this.

In the Orthodox tradition, it is customary to pray for animals to the holy martyrs Florus and Laurus, Saint Blaise, as well as the Russian martyr Athenogenes. From the lives of these saints it is known that they had the special grace to help livestock, healing them from various diseases.

Particularly worth mentioning is the commemoration of animals at the liturgy. This practice should not take place in the Orthodox Church, because during the liturgy they pray for people. Therefore, it is incorrect to submit notes with animal names for liturgical prayer commemoration. During the liturgy, you can pray to God for the cattle in your own words, and when ordering a special prayer service, you can enter your name.

Prayers to Saint Blaise of Sebaste: the most powerful

Saint Blaise prayed a lot to the Lord asking him to bless him to gain the ability to heal people. But during his lifetime he acquired the gift of healing animals. Therefore, he is considered the patron saint of domestic animals.

He used this gift in meekness and humility, which was perceived as working miracles and thereby further strengthened the faith of the parishioners of the Lord Jesus Christ. Blasius's miracle work gained fame during his lifetime. Even the Romans tried to ingratiate themselves with him and lure him to their side.

By preaching and healing, by his deeds and example, the saint proved the advantages of the Christian faith. Prayer to the Hieromartyr Blasius, Bishop of Sebastia, allows people to be healed from many diseases.

The story of Saint Blaise

Saint Blaise lived in the city of Sebastia in Asia Minor during the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian and Licinius in those places (284-324). Blasius was distinguished by high integrity and was popularly elected by the residents of the city to be ordained bishop of the city of Sebastia.

While serving in his capacity he gained the love and respect of the people. His sermons converted many parishioners to the faith of Christ. But in those days, the beliefs of the Romans rejected what Blasius preached, he was persecuted and he was forced to seek shelter from persecution.

During interrogation, he reviled their pagan faith and was subjected to torture and torture, but did not renounce the faith of Christ. The Romans, unable to break the will of Blasius, executed him.

Memorial Day: February 24

Reverence

Immediately after the burial, people began to come to the saint’s grave and received healing and help in good deeds. During the Crusades (about 732), the relics were taken from Sebastia to Italian Maratea, then distributed to churches throughout the Christian world.

The relics of the saint are revered by Catholics and Orthodox Christians; churches in honor of Blaise were built in France, Italy, and other countries. In Dubrovnik in Croatia, part of the relics (the head of the saint) is kept; it is believed that the holy martyr protects the city and patronizes the townspeople.

The memory of the martyr’s love for animals was preserved among the people. The saint is believed to be the patron of livestock. The Slavs identified Blasius with the pagan god Veles, who was called the bestial god. Temples in honor of the martyr were built near the temples where the pagan deity was worshiped. In the spring, the peasants asked the martyr to “open the milk of the cows,” and the cows themselves were called Vlasievkas.

To protect against the cow pestilence, there were special prayers in which the martyr was asked to protect the livestock from death. The cows were herded to churches, prayed for, and sprinkled with holy water. Remembrance Day of the Hieromartyr - February 24. Pets were freed from work, petted and treated to ritual baked goods.

Video about the Hieromartyr Blasius, Bishop of Sebaste

Miraculous words: prayer to Blasius for animals in full description from all the sources we found.

Animals get sick just like people; they need human help and care. Reading a prayer for the healing of an animal, dedicated to Saint Blaise, can help, since in most cases you just need to support the pet with prayer so that health returns.

Orthodox rules do not prohibit having a pet, be it a cat or a dog. If the priest says the opposite, he is wrong, this is just his personal negative attitude towards our smaller brothers. From time immemorial, man lived next to animals, sharing food and shelter with them. The only rule is that a dog or cat must know its place in the owner’s home and not be “above” him.

The answer to the question “is it possible to pray for animals?” it will definitely be YES, without our support it will be difficult for them. We are responsible for those we have tamed, remember this and be attentive to your pets.

Prayers for the health of pets have been known since the beginning of Orthodoxy.

In those days, tamed animals became man's best friends, helping him in all areas of life. Few people know, but almost every species has its own patron saint, to whom a prayer is read if something happens. This tradition goes back centuries, so for the recovery of cattle, a prayer is read to St. Blaise, for health or profit in the herd. Saint Basil helps those asking for sick pigs and wild boars, a prayer to Saint Nikita will help with problems with birds that live on the water. Appealing to the martyrs Florus and Laurus will help horse breeders.

We advise you to study How Orthodox Christians greet each other?

The tradition of bringing livestock to church was relevant until the 20th century.

To ask the saints for the healing of animals, every year on July 29, the day of the Hieromartyr Athenogenes, people gathered at the walls of the temple, where the priests performed sacred rituals. That is why it is customary to pray to the martyr Athenogenes for the health of the animal. The text of the petition is at the end of the article.

List of saints to whom to pray for pets:

• Bishop of Sebaste, Hieromartyr Blasius
• Saints Florus and Laurus
• Martyr George
• Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
• Venerable Theophan of Sigrian
• Saint Modestus, Bishop of Jerusalem

Saint Blaise is one of the "fourteen holy helpers". The Bishop of Sebaste lived during the time of Emperor Diocletian, when Orthodoxy was just beginning to emerge in these lands, eradicating centuries-old paganism. According to popular beliefs, the holy martyr could save people who were near death and heal sick animals with the power of prayer. Therefore, it is customary to pray to Saint Blaise for the healing of animals from any diseases. For his abilities, during the great persecution of Christians, he was tortured by pagans and suffered martyrdom in 316.

Funeral prayers for animals

An animal, like a person, has a soul, but does not have free will, therefore, according to Orthodox canons, it is considered absolutely sinless, no matter what it does. Reading funeral prayers in this case does not make sense and most likely you will be denied this request in the temple. You need to remember this and not insist on the last prayer for your pet. You can pray for an animal at home, in a quiet and calm environment, surrounded by loved ones, remembering wonderful moments.

A prayer for animals should be addressed to the patron of this species, but remember, any request will be heard and help will be provided. It’s up to you to decide which saint to pray to. A prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker for an animal can help, but the result will not be as strong as if you turn to the patron of this creature.

The meaning of the Hieromartyr Blasius in Orthodoxy

Blasius was a native of the city of Sevastia (now Sivas, Turkey), which was located in those ancient times (IV-V centuries) in the province of Cappadocia. Little is known about the saint’s childhood and youth. He became famous later when he became a bishop of the Christian Church.

The times were very turbulent, the attitude of the authorities towards the Christian religion quickly changed from anger to mercy and back. Therefore, the priest found a shelter in advance where he could hide from persecution. The cave he chose was located in a place inhabited by many wild animals, both good and predatory.

When the time came for the next attacks on believers, the bishop ordered his followers to hide in secret places to protect themselves from harm. He himself went to his hiding place. There is a legend that when Blasius approached the cave, a lion and a lioness blocked his way. Frightened, he stopped, and the wild animals bowed down before him. So the elder remained to live in his refuge.

Various animals came to him for blessings. He put his hand on their heads, prayed, after which they left, making room for others. One day a bear came with her paw damaged by an arrow. Vlasiy removed the weapon, anointed the wound with oil, and the forest dweller went home calmly.

The old man could not hide in the cave for long. The people of the ruler Agricola found him and brought him to trial. The saint was given a choice - renunciation of the Christian faith or martyrdom. Then the martyr accepted torture and death in the name of the Savior.

Christian churches - Catholic and Orthodox - equally highly honor the saint for his unwavering adherence to the commandments of Christ, for his meekness, righteousness, and help to ordinary people.

Blasius is revered as a protector, helper and healer for animals. They remember him as a godly and blameless person.

Ikos 4

Hearing that many signs and wonders were being performed in the name of Christ our God, glorified by you, and that many of the Greeks believed in Him, when you walked, God-bearing Blasie, to your suffering, a certain wife fell prostrate at your feet, praying to you with tears help her son, for the bone was in his throat and he was as if dead. But you, good shepherd, with faith cried out to the Savior of all, that her child might be healed, and thus praying, you asked the Lord: if someone has any trouble from people or animals, he will remember your name, help everyone, so that he may be glorified His name is Most Holy. And when the woman saw her boy healed, he glorified God, giving you praise. With this we also earnestly cry out to you:

Rejoice, by your strong faith you have converted unbelievers to Christ through miracles.

Rejoice, you who valiantly marched through suffering for Christ.

Rejoice, having shown steadfast love and undoubted hope in yourself by invoking the holy name of Christ.

Rejoice, thou who through the power of thy prayer granted healing to the lad from the Lord.

Rejoice, not just a man, but also a gift of healing to cattle.

Rejoice, and in all troubles and needs, you have inspired us to boldly call upon you.

Rejoice, our prayer book, quick helper, holy martyr Blasie.

Kontakion 11

We bring you a song of praise, Hieromartyr Blasie, about your courage and strong faith, which you showed, confessing Christ, when you saw your tormentor, as if you counted neither his wicked flattery nor grave torment, in the image of turning you away from Christ, you want to ask : “If I cast you into the lake, will your Christ have mercy on you?” To Him, most praiseworthy Father, without hesitation you said: “I honor the True Living God and I will be saved forever, and on the waters you will see the power of my God.” And when you were thrown into the lake, you marked the water with a cross, as if you were walking on dry land. Therefore, you accepted the death of a martyr for Christ, having been beheaded by the sword, singing praises to God: Alleluia.

Biography

Saint Blaise.
Artist Hans Memling According to the Acts of the Saints, the Hieromartyr Blasius lived in the city of Sebastia, which under the Emperor Diocletian became the administrative center of the province of Armenia Minor. According to the life and akathist, Blasius was distinguished by his pious life from his youth, was a doctor and, at the request of the residents, was appointed bishop of Sebaste. During the Great Persecution under Emperor Diocletian, Blasius consoled Christians and visited martyrs in prison; in particular, the life tells of his visit to Saint Eustratius of Sebaste. The persecution that Licinius continued forced Blasius and other Christians of the city to take refuge in the mountains of Argos, where the bishop supported and consoled the persecuted. The persecution continued, and one day the local ruler Agricola ordered the hunters to collect as many wild animals as possible to torture Christians. The hunters noticed a strange accumulation of different animals near one cave. Entering it, they saw Blasius, performing a feat of prayer, as if in some kind of palace. The animals waited for the saint to come out as usual to bless and heal them. Returning back, Agricola's servants informed the ruler about this, and he ordered Blasius to be brought to him. When the hunters returned and ordered Blasius to go out, he went out joyfully, saying that that night the Lord had called him three times. On the way to Sebastia, Blasius began to perform various miracles, calling on the Name of Christ. He healed people and helped in every way he could. One woman had her only son, whose fish bone stuck in his throat while eating and he was dying. After praying to God, Blasius pulled out the bone and saved her son. On the way, a poor widow came to him, whose only pig was stolen by a wolf. The saint calmed her down and, saying that everything would be fine with her pig, ordered her to go home. She returned home, and after a while the wolf brought the live piglet back to the widow in its teeth. In Sebastia, the saint was subjected to severe torture, with which the local ruler tried to break his faith and convert him to paganism.

Surprised by the faith of the saint, the widow slaughtered her pig, boiled it and, having collected vegetables and seeds, took them to Blasius in prison, where he was locked up. Vlasiy accepted the modest gift, tasted the food, and said the following words:

We advise you to study Is it a sin to euthanize a sick animal?

Agricola ordered the saint to be tied to a tree and his body was planed with iron combs for carding wool, but Blasius remained faithful to Christ. Seeing the suffering of the saint, seven pious wives followed Blasius, collected drops of his blood, anointed themselves with them and were taken by Agricola’s soldiers. He invited them to make sacrifices to the pagan gods, but they took the idols and threw them into the depths of Lake Sebaste. The ruler ordered to subject them to severe torture and then cut off their heads with a sword. One of the wives entrusted her two sons to the care of Blasius when they said that they wanted to inherit the Kingdom of God.

After some time, the ruler of Sebastia again tried to persuade the saint to paganism, and when Blasius refused, he threatened to throw him into Lake Sebastia, but the saint replied that Christ would deliver him and show His power. Having crossed the water, Vlasiy went down to the lake and began to walk on the water. Sitting in the middle of the lake, he invited the ruler’s servants, calling on their gods, to do the same. The pagans went into the lake and immediately drowned.

After this, the angel called upon the Hieromartyr Blasius with the words:

Having set foot on the ground, Blasius began to reproach the wicked ruler. Agricola sentenced the holy martyr and the two youths he mentored to death by beheading. Before his execution, the saint prayed to God for the forgiveness of his own and other people’s sins, as well as for the granting of help to everyone who would remember Blasius. At that moment, according to life, a bright cloud descended on him, from which a voice was heard:

According to legend, the body of Saint Blaise was buried with honors by a pious woman named Elissa at the place of the saint’s execution. According to legend, healings of Christians took place at the saint’s tomb. Saint Blaise of Sebaste suffered martyrdom around 316.

Prayer to Hieromartyr Blasius for the healing of animals

In addition to people, animals also get sick, and they also need the help and support of people, especially those who live next to people. Saint Blaise showed how we can help our little brothers - the dumb children.

Here is a prayer to Saint Blaise of Sebaste for the healing of animals:

Having heard us from the villages of paradise where you live, Holy Hieromartyr Blasius, look upon us on earth, celebrating your holy memory with love. You asked the Lord for grace to heal those who are sick with the larynx, and also to heal animals and people from various ailments, as we read about this in your life. You yourself, Holy Hierarch, prayed to the Lord like this: “Lord, hear my prayers and, if illness occurs in cattle and someone remembers my name, saying: God, through the prayers of Your servant Blasius, help him, you, Lord, hasten to help and grant healing to the glory and honor of Your holy name!” Heal, O venerable Blasius, our illnesses and keep our livestock healthy, for all are creatures of God created by the One Creator. Look upon us graciously, Saint Blaise of God, for you have loved every creation on earth, as being called to be by God. Hearken to us, the worthy Blasius, because before your death you prayed to our Master and Lord 6 those who want to commemorate your memory, that they may be filled with the gifts of God and remain blessed. Hear, Hieromartyr Blasius, from us who honor your honorable memory, and pray to the Lord, who has promised to always fulfill your requests; May our homes abound in all kinds of blessings, and may our prayers for all needs be heard. You know, Saint Blaise, that, having everything he needs, a man of thanksgiving sighs to God and from contentment of spirit becomes kind and gentle. Do not reject us who pray to you, Saint Blaise, and be an intercessor for us before the Lord, so that we may live in prosperity and in all piety, and after our death we will be worthy to present ourselves without condemnation to the throne of the Savior Christ, glorifying Him with His Beginning Father and His life-giving Spirit forever. Amen.

New article: prayer for the repose of an animal on the website holy-prayer.rf - in all the details and details from the many sources that we were able to find.

Iconography

Blasius on icons is written as an old man with a long gray beard, usually with Scripture in his hands. On the frescoes in the temple painting, the saint is included in group images with the fathers of the church.

The Bishop of Sebaste was revered in the Novgorod and Pskov lands; northern icon painters often painted the saint with other patrons of livestock (Spyridon of Trimifuntsky). The elders on many icons are depicted sitting opposite each other, with animals grouped around them. On early icons the saint was painted against the backdrop of fields, surrounded by horses and cows.

In Roman churches, mosaics and frescoes from the 12th to 18th centuries have been preserved, depicting scenes from the life of the holy martyr - the test of faith, monastic life, posthumous miracles.

Information: in Rus' there was a tradition of hanging an icon of Blasius in livestock buildings to protect animals from disease and injury.