The Saint Florian
Patron Saint of Fire Fighters
All firefighters are aware that Saint Florian is the patron Saint of
firefighters. Many have purchased and are very proud to wear the Saint
Florian medallion around their neck. These medallions are usually gold and
many are shaped in the form of a Maltese cross with the image of Florian
stamped in the center of it. If you ask who Florian was or why he is our
Patron Saint, most firefighters don't know. They assume it is because he
made some heroic fire rescue or maybe he was a priest who was involved in
the fire service. These answers are the typical response but neither is
accurate.
Florian was a Captain in the Roman army. He was a brave soldier and a
tenacious fighter. Rome recognized the danger of fire and was the first to
employ a fire department. This first fire department was made up of
slaves. They had no real desire to risk their lives battling the flames of
their captors. Rome desperately needed fire protection. They called on
Captain Florian to organize and train an elite group of soldiers whose
sole duty was to fight fires. Captain Florian indeed organized such a
group. They were highly trained and very successful at protecting Rome
from fires. A brigade of firefighters followed the army and provided fire
protection at their encampments. These firefighters were highly respected
and easily recognized. They wore the traditional Roman soldier uniform
except the skirt was green. The most famous picture of Saint Florian
depicts him with a young boy pouring water from a pitcher onto a fire.
This picture if seen in color reveals this green skirt.
Rome was very impressed by this young Captain and all that he had
accomplished. They decided to reward him by making him a general. Generals
were often given large tracks of conquered land to govern. The only rules
were that they had to enforce the laws of Rome and collect the taxes.
Florian's area included almost all of Poland. Rome began to hear some
rumors about the way Florian was governing his land. It was reported that
he was not enforcing Rome's law forbidding Christianity. Rome did not
believe this, but they did sent investigators to check. They reported back
that it was true. Rome sent a group of soldiers to confront Florian. They
warned and threatened him that he must enforce the laws of Rome and
abolish Christianity. Florian not only refused he confessed that he had
embraced the faith and become a Christian himself. Rome was furious. They
tortured him and demanded he renounce his faith. Florian steadfastly
refused. Rome ordered his execution.
Florian was to be burned at the stake. Soldiers marched him out and
secured him to the post. Villagers gathered around to witness the
execution. Florian begged his executioners to build the fire higher. He
implored them to light the fire so his soul would rise up to heaven on the
smoke from the blaze. The soldiers had never seen this kind of reaction
from a person about to be burned alive. They were frightened. What if his
soul did rise up, right in from of all the villagers? They could not
afford a martyr. The fire was not lit. Florian was taken away by the
soldiers who decided to drown him. He was placed in a boat and rowed out
into the river. A millstone was tied around his neck and he was pushed
over board and drowned.
After his death, people who were trapped by fire reported that they
invoked Florian’s name and his spirit delivered them from the flames.
These occurrences were reported and documented many times. Florian was
confirmed a saint for his commitment to his faith and the documentation of
his spirit delivering trapped persons from the flames.
It is only fitting, that firefighters, committed to their duty, and
instilled with the spirit to dedicate themselves to the protection of life
and property, should choose such a man as their patron saint.
- Crestview
Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 2680, Crestview,
Florida
