Feast of St. Blaise celebrated for the 1048th time in Dubrovnik

(Photo credit: Dubrovnik Tourist Board)

3 February 2020 – For the 1,048th year in a row, the feast of Saint Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik, is being celebrated today in the Dalmatian city.

The 3rd of February is the biggest day of the year in Dubrovnik and festivities kicked off with the traditional release of white doves and the raising of the patron saint’s flag in front of Saint Blaise’s Church.

Thousands will again take part in traditional processions, flag waving, rituals, singing and performances dating back centuries on Monday in Dubrovnik.

Ever since the year 972, when the feast day of St Blaise, Dubrovnik’s patron saint was first celebrated, the day has been an extremely important one in the city’s calendar.

Saint Blaise was born in ancient Sebaste, a Rome-run area in Lesser Armenia. He was known as an extremely knowledgeable and charitable doctor who loved to take care of the poor and sick.

After becoming the Bishop of Sebaste he was martyred there in the year 316 being beaten, attacked with iron combs, and beheaded on 3 February.

The Festivity of St. Blaise is on UNESCO’s list of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.