Description

St Florian of Lorch (Patron For Firefighters 2)

St Florian of Lorch was a Christian holy man and the patron saint of Linz, Austria. Chimney sweeps, soapmakers, and firefighters. His feast day is 4 May. St. Florian is also the patron of Upper Austria jointly with Saint Leopold.

St Florian was born around 250 AD in the ancient Roman city of Aelium Cetium. Present-day Sankt Pölten, Austria. He joined the Roman Army and advanced in the ranks. Rising to commander of the imperial army in the Roman province of Noricum. In addition to his military duties, he was also responsible for organizing and leading firefighting brigades. Florian organized and trained an elite group of soldiers whose sole duty to fight fires.

His body later retrieved by Christians and buried at an Augustinian monastery near Lorch. Later a woman named Valeria had a vision in which she saw him. Florian in this vision, declared his intent to buried in a more appropriate location.

Saint Florian adopted as patron saint of Poland in 1184. When Pope Lucius III consented to the request of Prince Casimir II to send relics of Florian to that country.Kraków thus claims some of his relics.

A statue of Florian by Josef Josephu unveiled in Vienna in 1935. It stood at the main firehouse of Vienna, in the city’s main square, Am Hof. After the firehouse bombed in 1945 during World War II the statue was moved on to the Fire Brigade Museum. Seeking the sponsorship of a helpful saint was and still is a part of the namegiving practice in Catholic areas. In the southern, Catholic parts of the German Empire.

Peasants regularly have used the name, Florian. As one of the given names for at least one of their male children. To secure the saint’s patronage against fire. Hence the given name is still widespread in these areas.