Valamar Blog

The town of Dubrovnik and its patron, Saint Blaise, have been connected spiritually and historically for centuries, and here comes the story on why the citizens of Dubrovnik chose Saint Blaise to be their patron.

It all happened in 972, when Venetians tried to trick the citizens of Dubrovnik on their way to Levant, pretending to require food, but anchoring at the same time a number of warships on Gruz and near the island of Lokrum in order to attack the town and conquer it.

According to the legend, Saint Blaise appeared to the town priest Stojko during his prayer and told him about the Venetians’ dangerous intentions, advising him to warn the town authorities in order to prepare promptly the defence. Stojko did as he was told and the citizens of Dubrovnik prepared their defences and thwarted the Venetians’ plans.

Saint Blaise was one of the early Christian martyrs: he was brutally executed in 317 in the times of the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Licinius. In life he was a doctor, as well as a friend of the poor and the sick. Saint Blaise was very much adored by the common people.

The feast day of Saint Blaise is celebrated each year on 3 February, when the citizens of Dubrovnik commemorate their patron saint.

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