Saint Florian

Florian was born around AD 250 and served as a high-ranking official in the Roman army during a time when Christianity was illegal and punishable by death. When he refused to execute Christians and openly declared his own faith, he was arrested. According to tradition, he was sentenced to be burned alive but told his executioners the flames would carry him to heaven — so they tied a stone around his neck and drowned him in the river Enns around 304. His feast day falls on 4 May. Over the centuries he became the patron saint of chimney sweeps, soapmakers, firefighters, Poland, the Austrian city…