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 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 responses, but neither are 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. As Rome desperately needed reliable fire protection, its leaders called on Captain Florian to organize and train an elite group of soldiers whose sole duty was to fight fires. They were highly trained and very successful at protecting Rome. A brigade of firefighters also 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-like leather armor 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 tracts 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 alleged he was not enforcing Rome's prohibition of Christianity. When the Roman leadership found that to be true, they sent a group of soldiers to confront him. Florian not only refused to enforce the law, he confessed he had converted. 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, 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 front of all the villagers? They could not afford a martyr. Instead, the soldiers placed him in a boat and rowed out onto the river. A millstone was tied around Florian's neck and he was pushed overboard.
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 people 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.
"Honoring Our Past Makes Us Appreciate Our Future"
