Franciscan Church & Monastery

Church of the Observant Friars

St. Florian’s Church, now a basilica, stands on the northern side of the Old Town of Kraków in an area known as Kleparz, a 14th-15th medieval suburb of the town.  It contains the relics of St. Florian, the Patron Saint of Poland, and is the starting point for royal funeral processions along the Royal Road that concludes at Wawel Cathedral. This basilica is considered especially holy by the residents of the city, and is a popular place for the Polish populace to pause for prayer. St. Florian is widely venerated in Central Europe. The Austrian town of Sankt Florian is named after him, because according to legend, his body was interred at St. Florian’s Priory, around which the town grew up. Pope Lucius III, in 1184, is reported to have given some of the saint’s relics to Casimir II of Poland and to the Bishop of Kraköw, thus Kraków and St. Florian’s Church  claims some of his relics. Florian lived in the time of the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian, and was commander of the imperial army in the Roman province of Noricum. In addition to his military duties, he was also responsible for organizing firefighting brigades. The Roman regime sought to eradicate Christianity, and sent Aquilinus to persecute Christians. When Aquilinus ordered Florian to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods in accordance with Roman religion, he refused and cheerfully accepted the beatings of his soldiers, who used clubs, spikes and fire to torture him. He was executed by drowning in the Enns River, a stone tied around his neck. Later, a woman named Valeria had a vision in which she saw him, Florian, who declared his intent to be buried in a more appropriate location. According to legend, his body was interred at St. Florian’s Priory in Austria, around which the town grew up. Saint Florian was widely venerated in Central Europe, not only in Poland, but also in Upper Austria.  It is thought that St. Florian might protect  the believer against their fears, including fear of animal plagues and fire. In Austria, the name Florian is used in fire stations as a call sign. The Florian Cross is used as a symbol by the New York City Fire Department.

PHOTOS: Top Three: 1. View of the nave of the church and the altar. 2. The altar of the basilica with a view of the choir. 3. The crucifix at the foot of the central aisle of the nave of the church. BottomThree: 1. Façade of St. Florian.. 2. Close-up of the façade if the church showing the classical details of the exterior. 3. View of St. Florian’s steeples with birds.

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JOURDAN ARPELLE-ZIEGLER                                   BACK TO MAP  PAGE