Ever Wonder How Saint Florian Became The Patron Saint of The Fire Service?

Imagine for a moment the following picture: There’s a small village, somewhere in the region of what is known today as Austria. There are women and children, families abound, and they’re screaming. There is frenzy, and the reason why is pretty apparent.

There is an inferno, and the entire village is ablaze. Looks of hopelessness and despair are prevalent. Never mind the wellness of the village itself, at this point, mere survival is a task which seems like an impossibility. No one has the slightest clue what to do. But then, something miraculous happens.

With only one bucket of water at his side and a look of courage on his brow, a man walks through the town and slowly starts defeating this unbearable task. He looks completely sure of himself as he douses out ember after ember, until the smoke starts to dissipate and hope is finally restored in this all but doomed homestead.

Does this seem a bit unrealistic? Perhaps. Can any average Joe or Jane achieve such an unbelievable feat, saving an entire village from certain ruin with only a bucket of water and a bit of elbow grease? No, but if you’re the patron saint of fire and firefighters, this kind of lore is exactly what you’d be expected to do. Legend has it, this is how Saint Michael came to be.

Saint Florian was born around 250 AD in the ancient Roman city of Aelium Cetiumin. His legend is still very esteemed in his birthplace today, in what is known as Sankt Polten, Austria, hence his role as patron of Upper Austria (shared with Saint Leopold).

There are many bullet points or credentials on Saint Florian’s resume as the patron saint of firefighters. Aside from saving a burning village with just a small vessel of water, there have been several tales of people who survived deadly fires by calling on the saint.

In his days as a commander of the Roman army, Saint Florian also organized and trained firefighting brigades. He led this group of elite soldiers, solely responsible for firefighting, in addition to his other military duties.

In time, his reputation as a hard worker preceded him. He was seen as dedicated and he worked well with people. Before long, he rose the ranks of the imperial army and led in the province of Noricum with a high administrative post.

All was well until his fate was challenged by Emperor Diocletian’s reign. Diocletian’s doctrine did not allow for the practice of Christianity under his rule. His reign, known also as part of the Great Persecution, was the last of a series of persecutions on Christians in Rome.

Law of the land dictated the people comply with traditional Roman religious practices, stripping legal rights and liberties from all Christians in the region that didn’t abide. Death or imprisonment were the prices to be paid for all those that disobeyed this statute. Everyone, even clergy, was targeted, instructed to sacrifice to the Roman gods as a way to be spared and redeemed. Renouncing your faith was the only way a Christian of this time to make it to tomorrow.

Saint Florian, a devout Christian man, was not governing his territory thusly. As part of his role as a leader under the emperor, it was expected that he carry out the law and restrict Christianity under his commend. He refused. How could he not? No one was going to tell Florian his God was not to be worshipped.

After a while, Rome received word of Florian’s injunctions and Aquilinus was sent to investigate. It didn’t take long to confirm the facts.

Aquilinus confronted Florian, demanding he abide by ancient Roman religion and offer a sacrifice to the gods. These demands were met with a firm denial to go against Christianity. Aquilinus couldn’t believe it. Who could be so bold to contest the emperor? Why, he asked, wasn’t Florian fulfilling his orders?

Saint Florian responded the only way he knew how. “Tell the emperor that I am a Christian and will suffer the same fate as the Christians.”

Aquilinus was still in shock, yet he insisted he could escape such a fate. Maybe a promotion would sway him? Not a chance. Florian refused to denounce him faith. How about threatening him with a punishment? Surely, being on the wrong end of a whip and taking a beating could get Florian to see clearly. Florian shrugged it off. He didn’t mind taking on a “few scratches” and bruises to protect his personal beliefs.

Going against the Roman empire wasn’t something people of this time could get away with. There were, as always, consequences to be paid for defying the empire. Not to mention, Florian was a beloved man, one who many followed and believed in. If he could stand up to Rome, so could everyone else.

The whispers of rebelling were faint, but existent nonetheless. What if Florian could convince fellow Christians to join his cause and defy the emperor? Aquilinus knew this was possible, and feared what could become of this. As a result, Saint Florian was sentenced death. How would he meet his untimely demise? Saint Florian was to be burned at the stake for his wrongdoings.

Surrounded by fire. Threatened by death. Hopelessness and despair abound. Saint Florian had been here before, back when he was in that small village, somewhere in the region of what is known today as Austria, equipped with a bucket no less, and a look of courage on his brow. He was unafraid and, again, completely sure of himself. If he had anything, he had faith, and confidence in his lord and in his religion. He remained adamant, unwavering in his religion. He would not go against his own beliefs, no matter what is costed him.

When the time came for him to rise onto the funeral pyre and, in no better terms, be burnt to death, he surprised many by what he was certain would be his last words. He definitely had something to say, but not what they expected. Rather than have a change of heart of a desperate plea for his life, Florian challenged the Roman soldiers to the light the fire.

“If you do, I will climb to heaven on the flames.”

Those 10 words or so was all it took. Aquilinus and those tasked with lighting the saint of fire hesitated, unsure of whether granting this enemy of the state his desired death would send the right message to any potential future deviants. No, they had a different idea in mind.

In a twist of irony, it was decided Florian would instead be executed by way of the one thing that gained him acclaim and reputation to begin with: Water (this is how he became the patron saint of floods).

Florian was taken to the Enns River, with a millstone tied around his neck, and thrown into the body of water. He let go, peacefully, and drowned to death. It is widely believed that his body was reclaimed by a group of Christians, who then gave him a proper burial and ceremony for his bravery and unwavering faith in Christianity.

His life may have ended, but his lore and his spirit would live on for eternity. Even today, Saint Florian is celebrated. A feast in his honor is held annually on May 4th, coinciding with International Firefighter’s Day.

The “Florian Principle,” as it is commonly known, is a prayer to the saint that equates to “O Holy Saint Florian, please spare my house, set fire to another one.”

The symbol of Saint Florian can be seen in pendants, visor clips, prayer cards, rings, and necklaces and it acts as a layer of protection against dangerous situations. It stands as a reminder to pray to the saint in dire times.