St. Florian Medals

St. Florian is the Patron Saint of Austria, Poland, Chimney Sweeps, Soap Boilers, and Firefighters

As a high ranking officer in the Roman army, Florian trained an elite group of soldiers whose sole duty was to fight fires. The emperor, Diocletian, began a fierce persecution of the Christians; reports reached Rome that Florian was not enforcing the proscriptions against Christians. When Florian was ordered to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods, he refused. He was sentenced to be burned at the stake.

Standing on the funeral pyre, Florian is reputed to have challenged the soldiers to light the fire, saying “If you do, I will climb to heaven on the flames.”

Apprehensive, instead of burning Florian, they drowned him in the Enns River. The Austrian town of Sankt Florian is named after him. In 1935, Josef Josephu, a well known sculptor, unveiled a statue of St. Florian which stood guard over the main firehouse of Vienna. In 1945 the building was bombed but the statute survived with only slight damage and is now at the Vienna Fire History Museum. St. Florian’s Feast Day is May 4.

Tagged 14k white gold st. florian necklace, firemen's shield of St. Florian, st. florian protector of firefighters, sterling silver st. florian medals