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Saint Florian has popular devotion in many parts of central
Europe, near the area of his martyrdom, not far from the spot
where the Enns flows into the Danube. Many miracles of healing
are attributed to his intercession and he is invoked as a
powerful protector in danger from fire, and floods and against
drowning. In addition to the patron saint of firefighters, he is
also known as the patron of Austria, Poland, chimney sweeps,
brewers and soap boilers. His feast day is May 4th.
Florian, born in Austria about 250 A.D., was an officer of the
Roman army, but was also a Christian in anti-Christian times.
Although recognized as a leader capable of handling heavy
responsibilities, he suffered “death for the Faith” in the days
of the Diocletian Emperor through disobeying orders concerning
the Christians in his area of command. Those orders included
burning Christian churches and books, ending Christian
employment, imprisonment of Christians, and finally sacrificing
them to the Roman gods.
Sentenced to death by fire, Florian is
reputed to have challenged the Roman soldiers “I will climb to
heaven on the flames.” The fearful Romans chose instead that he
be flogged and flayed then thrown into the river Enns with a
stone tied around his neck.
Sometime between 900 and 955, a monastery
was erected near Florian’s tomb, and subsequently the village of
Saint Florian grew up around it. Saint Florian was officially
adopted as patron saint of Poland by Pope Lucius III in 1138.
Legend has it that a Polish firefighter invoked Saint Florian’s
name in saving someone from a fire. Since then, Florian has been
invoked against fire and has generally been regarded in most
countries as the patron saint of the fire service.
A
perhaps mythological incident is attributed to Saint Florian in
which he miraculously stopped a fire with a single pitcher of
water. Many other miracles of healing are attributed to his
intercession.
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