Fast, concise facts and information about Saint Florian
The following provides fast and concise facts and information:
- The patron of Firefighters and chimney sweeps
- Memorial Day / Feast Day: May 4th
- Date of Death: Saint Florian died in A.D. 300
- Cause of Death: Executed by Drowning
Who or what is Saint Florian the patron saint of?
Saint Florian is the patron of Firefighters and chimney sweeps and one of the eight titulary saints of Austria. Meanings, definition and origins - a patron is considered to be a defender of a specific group of people or of a nation. There is a patron for virtually every cause, profession or special interest. Prayers are considered more likely to be answered by asking a patron for intercession on their behalf.
The Story and History of Saint Florian
The story and history of Saint Florian. Florian was a Roman Officer serving in Noricum a province of the Roman Empire situated in area of Austria. Florian was an officer during the rule of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (r.284-305). Emperor Diocletian mounted some of the fiercest persecutions of the early Church especially in the East of the Empire. Florian converted to Christianity and his secret beliefs were discovered when he refused to make sacrifices and worship the Roman gods. He was sentenced to death but first tortured by a variety of cruel tortures. He was thrown into the Enns River with a mill stone tied around his neck. Among the miracles attributed to him, he on one occasion put out a fire with a bucketful of water.
Death of Saint Florian
There are two categories of saints: martyrs and confessors. A Christian martyr is regarded as one who is put to death for his Christian faith or convictions. Confessors are people who died natural deaths. Date of Death: Saint Florian died in A.D. 300. Cause of Death: Executed by Drowning.
Why is Saint Florian the patron of Firefighters and chimney sweeps?
Why is Saint Florian is the patron of Firefighters and chimney sweeps? Because of the legend where he put out a fire with a bucket of water, hence the firefighters. The chimney sweeps were seen as a profession which helped to protect homes from outbreaks of fire.
How Saint Florian is represented in Christian Art
It is helpful to be able to recognise Saint Florian in paintings, stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, architecture and other forms of Christian art. The artistic representations reflect the life or death of saints, or an aspect of life with which the person is most closely associated. Saint Florian is represented in Christian Art as a Roman warrior with a lance and tub and often beside a millstone.
Feast Day of Saint Florian
The Feast Day of Saint Florian is May 4th. The origin of Feast Days: most saints have specially designated feast days and are associated with a specific day of the year and these are referred to as the saint's feast day. The feast days first arose from the very early Christian custom of the annual commemoration of martyrs on the dates of their deaths at the same time celebrating their birth into heaven.
