According to tradition, he was a senior officer in the Roman army and commander-in-chief of a firefighting unit. At the time of the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian, Florian learned that 40 Christians had been captured and imprisoned under torture in dungeons. He wanted to help them and was arrested himself. He was tortured and both shoulder blades were broken to make him renounce his faith, but Florian stood firm.
For this, he was to be purified at the stake. The soldiers who were to carry out the death sentence were frightened, as Florian prayed and said that he would rise from the flames into heaven. So he was pushed into a river with a stone around his neck.
Saint Florian is not only the patron saint of fire brigades, but also of brewers, bakers, chimney sweeps, gardeners, potters, coopers, blacksmiths and soap boilers, from Austria and Linz, as protectors from drought and fire and from burns.
This wood-carved figurine is available in different sizes and finishes. For this wooden figure we use sycamore maple in sizes 15cm to 40cm. The size 60cm is in lime and hand carved.