Sourp Parsegh

The well-known “European” Saint Blaise, St. Blasé, San Biagio, San Blas is the Armenian Sourp Parsegh. He was a physician and bishop of Sebastia (now Svas) who was beheaded. Marco Polo said that Sourp Parsegh healed animals.  The Armenian saint was killed (316) when the governor of Cappadocia and Lesser Armenia Agricolus began persecuting Christians by the order of Emperor Licinius. The Cornwall (UK) valley St. Blazey derives from his name. Many English churches are named Saint Blaise. In Croatia he is known as Sveti Vlaho or Sveti Blaz, patron saint of Dubrovnik. Some of Sourp Parsegh’s relics are buried there. There’s a speculation that Blouse (Jersey Islands) is named after him. Thus the blouse (Fr.) could have derived from the Armenian saint’s name.

The well-known “European” Saint Blaise, St. Blasé, San Biagio, San Blas is the Armenian Sourp Parsegh. He was a physician and bishop of Sebastia (now Svas) who was beheaded. Marco Polo said that Sourp Parsegh healed animals.  The Armenian saint was killed (316) when the governor of Cappadocia and Lesser Armenia Agricolus began persecuting Christians by the order of Emperor Licinius. The Cornwall (UK) valley St. Blazey derives from his name. Many English churches are named Saint Blaise. In Croatia he is known as Sveti Vlaho or Sveti Blaz, patron saint of Dubrovnik. Some of Sourp Parsegh’s relics are buried there. There’s a speculation that Blouse (Jersey Islands) is named after him. Thus the blouse (Fr.) could have derived from the Armenian saint’s name.