Who is St Florian?

Third century officer in Roman army stationed in modern Austria. Military administrator of the town of Noricum, and a closet Christian. Said to have stopped a town from burning by throwing a single bucket of water on the blaze, and thus his association with firefighters and those who protect us from fire, including chimney sweeps. When ordered to execute a group of Christians during the persecutions of Diocletian, he refused, and professed his own faith. Martyr.

Died c.304; scourged, flayed alive, a stone tied to his neck, and dumped into a river; body later retreived by Christians and buried at an Augustinian monastery near Lorch; relics translated to Rome in 1138; part of the relics given to King Casimir of Poland and the bishop of Cracow by Pope Lucius III, which led to Florian's patronage of Poland and Upper Austria

Patronage against battles, against fire, Austria, barrel-makers, brewers, chimney sweeps, coopers, drowning, fire prevention, firefighters, floods, harvests, Linz Austria, Poland, soap-boilers

Representation
young man, sometimes in armor, sometimes unarmed, pouring water from a tub on a burning church; with a palm in his hand and a burning torch under his feet; bearded warrior with a lance and tub; classical warrior leaning on a millstone, pouring water on a fire; boy with a millstone; on a journey with a hat and staff; beaten; thrown into a river with a millstone around his neck; lying dead on a millstone guarded by an eagle; with a sword.

I found this here: http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintf05.htm

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

ANSWERBAG BUZZ