Saint Florian
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| Saint Florian | |
|---|---|
 Saint Florian, 1473 painting by Francesco del Cossa. |
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| Died | ~303 AD, Enns River |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | May 4 |
| Attributes | depicted as a Roman officer or soldier; pitcher of water; pouring water over fire; invoked against fire, floods and drowning[1] |
| Patronage | Poland; Linz, Austria; chimneysweeps; firefighters; soap boilers; Upper Austria |
Saint Florian (Latin: Florianus; civil name: Florian von Lorch) (died ca. 304) is a Christian saint, and the patron saint of Poland; Linz, Austria; chimney sweeps; and firefighters. His feast day is May 4. St. Florian is also the patron of Upper Austria, jointly with Saint Leopold.
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[edit] Life
Florian lived in the time of the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian, and was commander of the imperial army in the Roman province of Noricum. In addition to his military duties, he was also responsible for organizing firefighting brigades.[2]
The Roman regime sought to eradicate Christianity, and sent Aquilinus to persecute Christians. When Aquilinus ordered Florian to offer sacrifice to the pagan Roman gods in accordance with Roman religion, he refused, and cheerfully accepted the beatings of the soldiers, who used clubs, spikes and fire to torture him. He was executed by drowning in the Enns River with a stone tied around his neck.[3]
Later a woman named Valeria had a vision in which she saw him; Florian, in this vision, declared his intent to be buried in a more appropriate location.
[edit] Veneration
Saint Florian was widely venerated in Central Europe.[4] The Austrian town of Sankt Florian is named after him. According to legend, his body was interred at St. Florian's Priory, around which the town grew up.
Pope Lucius III, in 1184, is reported to have given some of the saint's relics to Casimir II of Poland and to the Bishop of Kraków. Kraków thus claims some of his relics.[4]
The Austrian Floriani Principle is named after a prayer to Saint Florian: "O heiliger St. Florian verschon mein Haus, zünd andre an", translating to "O holy Saint Florian, spare my house, kindle others".
A statue of Florian by Josef Josephu was unveiled in Vienna in 1935. It stood at the main firehouse of Vienna, in the city's main square, Am Hof. After the firehouse was bombed in 1945 during World War II the statue was moved to the Fire Brigade Museum (Wiener Feuerwehrmuseum)[1].
[edit] Folk saying
In German speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) people say in half-jest (it sounds like a rhyme):
Oh holy Sankt Florian
save my home
Light up someone else's.[5]
Heiliger Sankt Florian
Verschon mein Haus
Zünd andre an!
[edit] References
- ^ a b S. D. Paramedics: The Patron Saint of the Fire Service: Saint Florian
- ^ Saint Florian, Patron Saint of Firefighters
- ^ Saint Quirinus of Sescia, another saint associated with Pannonia, was also said to have been executed by drowning with a stone tied around his neck.
- ^ a b St. Florian - Catholic Online
- ^ Literally, "Light up another one
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Saint Florian |
