- Saint Florian Patron Saint of Firefighters
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 Florians 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.
Honoring Our Past Makes Us Appreciate Our Future
- James L. Blanchard, Saugus Fire Local 100