"Basher" St. Blaise
Saint Blaise (d. c.316) was an early Christian bishop and martyr in Armenia. One of the most popular medieval saints, he was solemnly venerated as the patron saint of sufferers from throat diseases. Although Christianity had been adopted c. 300 as the state religion in Armenia, the Roman emperor Licinius began a persecution of the Christians, and Blaise was taken prisoner. While in prison he miraculously cured a boy from fatally choking. After being torn with wool combers' irons, Blaise was beheaded.
Ah, but here's the kicker. St. Blasius (as the Germans call him) is always depicted holding the head of a pig. A wolf stole a widow's pig, whereupon Blasius called the wolf back and compelled it to return the pig, alive, to the widow. When St. Blasius was imprisoned, the widow slaughtered the pig to feed the saint and brought the pig's head to him.
