Florus and Laurus of Illyria

Florus and Laurus of Illyria

The brothers Ss Florus and Laurus of Illyria were martyred for their faith in second-century Illyria. They are commemorated on August 18.

The martyrs Florus and Laurus of Illyria were twin brothers and stone sculptors by profession. They learned their art from Proclos and Maximos. When their teachers suffered martyrdom, they left Byzantium and went to take up their abode in the city of Ulpiana in Dardania of Illyricum. They were forced by a prince to build a pagan temple. During the construction a splinter of stone flew into the eye of the son of a pagan priest. Florus and Laurus prayed for the boy, made the sign of the cross over his eye, and he was immediately healed. The governor had them arrested and buried alive in a dry well. The date of their repose is during the 2nd Century. A century later horses were noted to be drinking from the spot of the well and their incorrupt relics were discovered. They were then translated to Constantinople.

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 4) [1]

Let us praise as is meet, O you faithful,

The most comely, radiant and divinely wise martyrs:

Most blessed Florus and all venerable Laurus,

Who proclaimed to all the uncreated Trinity.

Suffering unto bloodshed,

They were adorned with brilliant crowns.

Entreat Christ our God to save our souls.

Kontakion (Tone 8)

Today all the world honors in glory the divinely wise Florus and Laurus,

As pious martyrs who suffered for Christ.

Through their prayers may we receive grace and mercy

And be delivered from calamity and temptation,

And from wrath and sorrow on the Day of Judgment.

External links

• Martyr Florus of Illyria - OCA website.
• Floros & Lauros the Monk-martyrs of Illyria GOARCH website