Saint Florian von Lorch
Florian von Lorch was born around 250 AD and was martyred for his faith around 304 AD. He lived in the area known as "the Town of Enns," near the River Enns, which is in present day Austria. He converted to Christianity when it was still a minority religion. It is said that as a youth, Florian was able to put out a fire in a house through the power of his prayers alone. It is also said that he saved an entire city from flames with only a single bucket of water.
Florian joined the Roman Army as a youth and, coming up through the ranks, was eventually made a centurion in the Roman Fire Brigade. As centurion Florian would have commanded one hundred firefighters. Near the end of his career he occupied the high administrative post of Prefectus Vigilum or "Fire Chief" in Noricum, now part of Austria. The Roman fire brigade, in which Florian served, numbered upwards of seven thousand members at the height of the power of the Roman Empire. These men not only protected the cities of Rome, and other locales, but were a mobile force protecting the Roman Army on its marches and conquests. The mobile Roman Army was famous for erecting tent cities and other temporary and flammable living quarters wherever it went.
At the beginning of the 4th Century, during the persecution named for the Emperor Diocletian, Florian made a public profession of his Christian Faith and turned himself in to the local governor. Governor Aquilinus, wishing to make an example of the popular Fire Chief, ordered his execution by burning at the stake. Florian was twice scourged, half-flayed alive, and then prepared to be set on fire. After several attempts to light the kindling failed, the infuriated Aquilinus ordered a millstone tied to Florian's neck and Florian thrown into the River Enns.
A pious woman found the body of the Martyr Florian and returned it to dry land. Eventually, his body was removed to an Augustinian Abbey near Linz, which became known as The Abbey Saint Florian. Almost immediately popular devotion to Saint Florian sprung up in many parts of Central Europe. The tradition as to his martyrdom, not far from the spot where the River Enns flows into the Danube, is ancient and reliable. Many miracles of healing were attributed to his intercession and he was invoked as a powerful protector when in danger from fire or water. Finally, the relics of Saint Florian were transferred to Rome where he has been formally invoked as "the Patron Saint of Firefighters" since the twelfth century.
Florian joined the Roman Army as a youth and, coming up through the ranks, was eventually made a centurion in the Roman Fire Brigade. As centurion Florian would have commanded one hundred firefighters. Near the end of his career he occupied the high administrative post of Prefectus Vigilum or "Fire Chief" in Noricum, now part of Austria. The Roman fire brigade, in which Florian served, numbered upwards of seven thousand members at the height of the power of the Roman Empire. These men not only protected the cities of Rome, and other locales, but were a mobile force protecting the Roman Army on its marches and conquests. The mobile Roman Army was famous for erecting tent cities and other temporary and flammable living quarters wherever it went.
At the beginning of the 4th Century, during the persecution named for the Emperor Diocletian, Florian made a public profession of his Christian Faith and turned himself in to the local governor. Governor Aquilinus, wishing to make an example of the popular Fire Chief, ordered his execution by burning at the stake. Florian was twice scourged, half-flayed alive, and then prepared to be set on fire. After several attempts to light the kindling failed, the infuriated Aquilinus ordered a millstone tied to Florian's neck and Florian thrown into the River Enns.
A pious woman found the body of the Martyr Florian and returned it to dry land. Eventually, his body was removed to an Augustinian Abbey near Linz, which became known as The Abbey Saint Florian. Almost immediately popular devotion to Saint Florian sprung up in many parts of Central Europe. The tradition as to his martyrdom, not far from the spot where the River Enns flows into the Danube, is ancient and reliable. Many miracles of healing were attributed to his intercession and he was invoked as a powerful protector when in danger from fire or water. Finally, the relics of Saint Florian were transferred to Rome where he has been formally invoked as "the Patron Saint of Firefighters" since the twelfth century.
