Dubrovnik’s day: Feast of Saint Blaise celebrated for the 1047th time today
- by croatiaweek
- in News
3 February 2019 – For the 1,047th year in a row, the feast of Saint Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik, is being celebrated today.
The 3rd of February is the biggest day of the year in Dubrovnik and festivities kicked off on Saturday 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 Sunday 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.
