Saint Blaise (Surp Vlas) was born into a rich and noble family who raised him as a Christian. After becoming a bishop of Sebastea (today Sivas), a new persecution of Christians began. He escaped to Mount Erciyes in Kayseri, but was found by Roman soldiers and killed by the governor. Blaise is the patron saint of wild animals because of his care for them. He is also known for his care of those with throat maladies, which apparently originated from a legend that Saint Blaise was able to heal a boy brought to him near death with a fishbone lodged in his throat.