Saint Florian
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For the city in Austria, see Sankt Florian.
Saint Florian (Latin: Florianus) (died c. 304) is a Christian saint, and the patron saint of Poland, Linz, Austria, chimney sweeps and firefighters. His feast day is May 4. St. Florian is also the patron of Upper Austria, jointly with Saint Leopold.
[edit] Life
Florian lived in the time of the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian, and was commander of the imperial army in eastern Bavaria, Germany. The Roman regime sought to eradicate Christianity, and sent Aquilinus to persecute Christians. When Aquilinus ordered Florian to offer sacrifice to the pagan Roman gods in accordance with Roman religion, he refused, and cheerfully accepted the beatings of the soldiers, who used clubs, spikes and fire to torture him. He was executed by drowning in the River Enns with a stone tied around his neck. Later a woman named Valeria had a vision in which she saw him; Florian, in this vision, declared his intent that he be buried in a more appropriate location.
[edit] Burial
St. Florian's body, according to tradition, is buried in Kraków, Poland.
The Austrian town of St. Florian is named after him. According to legend, his body was stored at the location of the Monastery of St. Florian.
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