a military order instituted by the kings of Armenia, in honour of St Blaise the martyr, anciently bishop of Sebasta, and the patron saint of Armenia. Justinian calls them knights of St Blaise and St Mary, and places them not only in Armenia, but in Palestine. They made a vow to defend the religion of the church of Rome, and followed the rule of St Basil. This institution appears to have commenced about the same time with the knights-templars and hospitallers.