Florian the Martyr

Holy Martyr Florian, a Roman officer drowned for his faith at Lorch in present-day Austria.

Florian was an officer of the Roman army in the province of Noricum. During the persecution of Diocletian he openly declared himself a Christian when the governor sought out believers, and after scourging he was thrown into the river Enns with a stone tied to his neck, around the year 304.

He is widely honored in central Europe as patron of those who fight fires.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Florian the Martyr is commemorated on May 4. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on May 17 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Florian

Also commemorated on May 4

• 

  Pelagia

  Holy Woman, Πελαγία

  Holy Martyr Pelagia of Antioch.

  Name days: Pelagia, Pelayia, Pela

• Nikephoros of Mount Athos

  Venerable, Νικηφόρος ο Αθωνίτης

  Venerable Nikephoros the Hesychast of Mount Athos, teacher of Saint Gregory Palamas.

  Name days: Nikiforos, Nikephoros, Nicephorus

• Monica, Mother of Augustine

  Holy Woman, Μόνικα

  Saint Monica, whose years of prayer and tears brought her son Augustine to Christ.

  Name days: Monica, Monika, Monique

• Aphrodisios and Companions

  Martyr, Αφροδίσιος, Λεόντιος και Αντωνίνος

  Holy Martyrs Aphrodisios, Leontios, Antoninos and their companions, who suffered at Scythopolis in Palestine.

  Name days: Aphrodisios, Afrodisios, Leontios, Leontius

• Athanasios of Corinth

  Hierarch, Αθανάσιος Κορίνθου

  Venerable Athanasios, Bishop of Corinth, an ascetic hierarch of the Byzantine period.

• Hilarion the Wonderworker

  Venerable, Ιλαρίων ο Θαυματουργός

  Venerable Hilarion the Wonderworker, an ascetic honored in the Greek synaxarion.

  Name days: Ilarion, Hilarion