The Roman Catholic Church has many patron saints. The Roman commander-in-chief Florian of Lorch is one of them. He was buried in the Austrian Lorch, near the current basilica, in the early 4th century. He is the patron saint of the city of Linz and the state of Upper Austria, but also of Poland and the Polish city of Krakow, where some of Florian’s relics are buried. Many miracles are attributed to this ruler of the Roman army in the 3rd century. He was a Christian, but he ultimately had to pay the highest price for that belief. His anniversary is May 4. At the place where he was buried, a place of pilgrimage, many miracles are said to have taken place, according to believers. His death is covered in numerous legends. Florian of Lorch is particularly invoked in times of drought and fire.
Contents
- Noricum – a Roman province
- Christianity
- Florian of Lorch and the burning house
- Roman commander-in-chief and martyr
- Sealed fate
- Death of Florian of Lorch
- Augustinian Monastery
- Patron Saint Florian of Lorch
- Patron saint
- Patron saint against drought and fire
- Attributes and iconography
Noricum – a Roman province
Florian of Lorch is said to have been martyred in 304, after an initially exemplary career as commander-in-chief of the Roman army in the then province of Noricum. This Roman province included parts of present-day Slovenia, Carinthia and part of Austria, east of Bavaria and Salzburg. The name Florianus is derived from the Latin florens , meaning ‘flowering’, ‘charming’. The name is also related to Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring.
Florianus van Lorch, coat of arms of the Wiener Gewerbegenossenschaften, ca. 1900 / Source: Hugo Gerard Ströhl, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Christianity
In the first fifty years before the common era, the Romans conquered the Alpine country and the surrounding regions. In the following centuries, these regions were under Roman rule for the longest time compared to the rest of the Empire. For this reason, the infrastructure in Noricum was well developed. The administration was effective and trade flourished. Latin was a language that was understood everywhere. It promoted the rapid spread of Christianity in the first century.
Florian of Lorch and the burning house
The life of Florianus van Lorch is filled with legends. According to tradition, Cetium, today’s St. Põlten (Austria), was his birthplace. His parents were Christian and came from a Roman family with a military background. Florian was raised devoutly, although not openly, in an administrative culture that was sometimes very hostile to Christianity. He entered Roman military service. It is unknown in which legions and in which ranks he served.
The miracle The first miracle is said to have occurred at a young age. It happened when Florianus helped the adults put out a house fire. Although according to some sources that was later in life. Little Florian threw a bucket of water on the flames. It was more a symbolic than an effective act. Nevertheless, the sea of flames immediately extinguished miraculously. The intervention of little Florian was so striking that the miracle was attributed to him.
Roman commander-in-chief and martyr
Florian of Lorch quickly made a career in the army and became director of the chancellery in Noricum in the capacity of commander-in-chief under governor Aquilinus, which is also clearly visible in Florian’s iconography. According to one of the traditions, Florian served his entire term of service without any problems until his retirement, after which the difficult issues arose. Issues that would cost him his life. According to another alleged explanation, governor Aquilinus wanted to test Florian’s loyalty somewhere in the middle of his career, during yet another revival of Christian persecution. Florian also kept his real vocations well hidden to prevent him from ultimately being executed.
Sealed fate
The governor had 40 Christians captured in Lorch (Austria), which was then called Lauriacum and where he resided. In all likelihood, friends of Florian were also present, including former army comrades. According to legend, during his retirement he traveled from St. Põlten to Lorch to attempt mediation. According to another version, Florian, as a high Roman administrator, confessed his Christian faith in solidarity with the 40 arrested. He could not agree with his conscience that they were punished for their religion and he was not. Naturally, he realized that this sealed his fate, especially since he had since refused to make sacrifices to the Roman gods.
Florian of Lorch, St. Florian’s Gate in Kraków (Poland) / Source: Ludek, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)
Death of Florian of Lorch
After this confession, governor Aquilinus had him arrested. During the trial he asked Florian to choose the ‘wisest course’ and openly renounce Christ by sacrificing to the Roman gods. Florian of Lorch was tortured with sticks in the presence of the 40 imprisoned Christians. Aquilinus thought that the other prisoners might also change their minds. With a lance, an executioner pierced the shoulder of Florian, who, like the 40 prisoners, continued to persevere in his faith. On May 4, 304, Florian of Lorch was thrown from the bridge over the Enns into the river with a large stone around his neck. The other prisoners also suffered a horrible fate.
Augustinian Monastery
According to legend, the soldier who pushed him into the river went blind shortly afterwards. Apparently the rope around the stone had become loose, because Florianus’ body drifted away and could not be found for some time. But an eagle circling over some cliffs suggested to a woman where the body had washed up. With an ox cart, this woman Valeria, a pious widow, took the corpse elsewhere, because she wanted him to have a dignified resting place. Suddenly the oxen stopped and would not go any further. Valeria saw this as a divine sign and came to realize that that place would become Florian’s grave. God wanted it that way. A monastery was built above his grave, then a large Augustinian monastery (Stift Sankt Florian) was built near the town of Sankt Florian (near Linz). The impressive ceiling paintings there tell of the miracles of Florian of Lorch. Later his bones were transferred to Rome and reportedly buried at the tombs of Saints Stephen and Lawrence. However, according to some sources, Florian’s actual resting place is still unknown.
Patron Saint Florian of Lorch
The anniversary of Florian of Lorch is May 4, the day he was executed. It is almost certain that the graves of the 40 martyred Christians are in the church of Lorch. It is also almost certain that relics of Florian were buried in the cathedral church of Krakow. Casimir, King of Poland, and Bishop Gedron of Kraków had requested the relics. They were sent by the then pope in 1183, after which Florian of Lorch also became patron saint of Poland. There are also relics in the Augustinian monastery of Sankt Florian in the diocese of Linz. Furthermore, a water source is said to have sprung up at the place where the oxen stopped, probably from thirst.
Rome According to some sources, Florian’s bones were interred in Rome with Saints Stephen and Laurentius. Another source says that Florianus already became very popular among the Christian legionnaires. Allegedly, relics were taken by a legion, of which there were many, on campaigns (for protection) and eventually ended up in Krakow through wanderings.
Florianus van Lorch, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York / Source: Creator:Casper , Wikimedia Commons (CC0 )
Patron saint
Florian of Lorch is especially popular as a patron saint in southern Germany, Austria, Poland (Krakow) but also in Italy, such as Bologna, where he is immortalized in the San Giacomo on a 17th-century panel depicting Florian of Lorch with a sword and a flower (violet). He is also the patron saint of firefighters, who in the southern areas are called Saint Florian’s boys. The name day, or day of death, of Florian is also International Firefighters Day. In Austria, his anniversary is a Roman Catholic holiday.
Patron saint against drought and fire
Florian of Lorch has many advocates. The most important, or most popular, are drought and fire. In addition, he enjoys intercession in cases of infertility (agriculture), storms, high water, danger of war and all possible threats related to drought and fire. He is also invoked during floods, as he was killed by water. His advocacy also applies to burns and all professions that involve fire, such as blacksmiths and even chimney sweeps.
Attributes and iconography
Characteristic is the barrel with which, according to legend, Florian helped extinguish a house fire as a little boy. Typically, the patron saint is depicted in a legion (commander) uniform, complete with equipment such as the sword ( gladius ), the lance, the shield and the banner. The millstone, with which he was thrown into the Enns, and the palm branch (martyr symbol) are also among his attributes.
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