● Orthodox/Catholic Remembrance Day: August 18
● Name means: the flowering (from Latin)
● Martyr
● Patron: the sculptor and the cattle and horses
● Born in Constantinople, today Istanbul, Turkey
● Died in the 2nd century in Illyricum, Bosnia
Florus and Laurus, twin brothers renowned for their exemplary stonemasonry skills, were said to
have learned the trade from two Christians named Maximus and Proculus. The duo’s reputation
for artistry grew and eventually reached the ears of Likaion, the prefect of the province of Illyria,
who commissioned the brothers to build a grand pagan temple.
Despite earning a sizable wage for their work, Florus and Laurus’ generosity knew no bounds, as
they selflessly distributed their earnings to the poor. However, one fateful day, a splinter of stone
from the temple’s construction injured the son of Mamertin, a pagan priest. It was then that the
twin brothers performed a miracle, healing the poor child and leading the pagan priest and his
son to convert to Christianity.
As the temple neared completion, Florus and Laurus gathered countless Christians from the
surrounding area. Together, they marched to the temple, toppled its pagan statues and replaced
them with a cross. The group spent the night in prayer within the temple.
This act of rebellion did not go unnoticed by Likaion, who responded with brutality. He ordered
the burning of 300 Christian converts, including Mamertin and his son. Meanwhile, Florus and
Laurus were thrown alive into a cistern, which was then covered with earth.
Legend has it that the twins’ relics remained incorruptible long after their cruel demise. In fact,
their connection to horses was so strong that on the day of Florus and Laurus’ death, an outbreak
of severe horse sickness that had plagued the region miraculously ceased.
