The Life of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus
Florus and Laurus (siblings) converted to Christianity at a young age and preached the Good News to their compatriots. In the second century they lived in Byzantium, and from there they came to Illyria, which was located in the territory of present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The biography does not say who the parents of the holy martyrs were, but it is known that the brothers made their living by working stone and became famous as skilled craftsmen in their craft.
Their teachers were the pious Maximus and Proclus, from whom they learned the art of stone processing. They also told their brothers about Christ and explained the Scriptures to them. The ruler of the region where Florus and Laurus lived and worked sent them to the neighboring region where the temple of Hercules was being built. The brothers obeyed the order without hesitation and began to work diligently, using all their skills and craft abilities.
Despite the fact that the saints worked on the construction of a pagan temple, they did not hide the fact that they were Christians, and whenever possible they testified to the pagans about the Savior. During the day they worked hard, and at night they fervently prayed to the Lord. One day the son of the supreme oracle came to the place where Hercules was building a temple. He wanted to watch Florus and Laurus work, but he came too close to the place where they were processing the stone, and a piece of the stone flew off and hit him in the eye, causing severe pain. The oracle's son screamed loudly, and his father ran to the place of work, got angry and wanted to beat his brothers for their carelessness.
The holy martyrs calmed the oracle and promised him that they would heal his son. The brothers took him to their house and began to fervently pray to the Lord, calling him to faith in Christ. When they finished praying, Florus and Laurus crossed the priest's son, and his eye was immediately healed. Not only did this young man become a Christian, but his father, a pagan oracle, also believed in the Lord.
When the construction of the pagan temple was completed, the brothers gathered about 300 Christians who had worked with them on the construction, smashed the idols and installed a cross in the eastern part of the temple.
There they said the first prayer and began to conduct the service, and at that moment the temple was illuminated with heavenly light. When those present saw this sign, they went to the next room, where they removed all the idols and began to beat and break them.
When the ruler of the region found out about what had happened, he gave the order to seize everyone who helped the brothers in the destruction of the temple and burn them at the stake. Among those killed were the oracle and her son, who were healed thanks to the prayers of Florus and Laurus. The ruler sent the brothers to Illyria under arrest and after a severe beating.
The Illyrian ruler Lycaon, realizing that Florus and Laurus were Christians and that he could not convince them to renounce their faith, gave the order to throw them into a deep well and bury them. So the brothers accepted martyrdom for Christ and maintained their faith in the Lord to the end. Many years later, the relics of the brothers were found intact and transferred to Constantinople.
What do the holy brothers pray for?
Florus and Laurus bless those who remember them in prayer.
- The saints are glorified in prayers and hymns for their patience, love for people, and unshakable faith in the One God.
- Flora and Lavra ask for strengthening of faith, fortitude for the humble acceptance of all life's adversities.
- People turn to God's saints to heal people from alcoholism and direct them to the right path.
- Saints are considered the patrons of veterinarians. They help doctors treat animals.
- They appeal to the holy martyrs in order to soften the hearts of people and instill in them love and kindness towards our lesser brothers.
- Heavenly helpers help horses in their lives and hard work.
- They pray to them for protection from animal theft and help in finding lost ones.
- They are asked to heal pets.
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Akathist to the holy martyrs Flora and Laurus Kontakion 1 The chosen blessed two, who suffered even to the death of Christ, the blessed Flora and the all-honorable Laurus, in song, faithfulness, we honor the spiritual and, as through these prayers we are delivered from troubles, we cry out in gratitude, calling: Rejoice, Flora and Laurus , Christ's paradise blooms beautifully. Ikos 1 of the Angels, like the saplings, you received, blessed martyrs, when, after your suffering, you appeared before the Throne of the Lord, and with everyone, sealed with the blood of the Lamb of God, cry out “Hosanna!” To the one who sits on the Throne. We, mortals on earth, marveling at such your glory, we praise you: Rejoice, you who followed Christ by faith; Rejoice, you took His cross like a yoke. Rejoice, redemption through the blood of the Lamb of God; Rejoice, and for the sake of your blood, Christ did not spare. Rejoice, you who were buried in the red death of Christ; Rejoice, you have found the source of life. Rejoice, narrow path, sorrowful one who has passed; Rejoice, for the doors of heaven have opened to you. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the Paradise of Christ blossoms in beauty. Kontakion 2 Seeing how many rewards in heaven were given to the holy passion-bearers, sweating, faithful, having diligently examined their earthly life, from this we learn how faith can be promoted by actions, how it raises from earthly to heavenly and how it teaches us to cry out to God: Alleluia. Ikos 2 You illuminated the Divine Mind, Flora and Lavra, when the guardians of piety, Proclus and Maximus, not only taught stone-cutting cunning, but also established goodness on the stone of the faith of Christ, on which you remained indestructible even to the end, working diligently for the Lord, for this sake we please you, calling: Rejoice, in the labors of your youth; Rejoice, you who have enslaved Christ to yourself. Rejoice, having driven laziness far away; Rejoice, the talent given to you has greatly aggravated it. Rejoice, having escaped the slavery of the flesh; Rejoice, you who have worked in the spirit of the Lord. Rejoice, fertilizer for hard workers; Rejoice, rebuke of the lazy. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the Paradise of Christ blossoms in beauty. Kontakion 3 The power of the Most High moved the ruler of a certain country to call the workers of saints to build an idol temple, for this temple was built, another temple not made by hands was built; The people of that country, Flora and Laurus, preached the teachings, came to know the True God and sang to the One: Alleluia. Ikos 3 Having firm faith in their hearts, the God-bearing brethren fearlessly went to another country to do foreign work, and, after a short time, turned their work into the work of the apostles; people, who sit in the darkness and shadow of death, are illuminated by the light of the Gospel, and the stone-cutters have brought with them the wisdom of God, for this sake let us sing, calling: Rejoice, enlighteners of languages; Rejoice, imitators of the apostles. Rejoice, proclaimer of the Gospel of Christ; Rejoice, workers in the Lord’s virgin field. Rejoice, you who have praised the Lord among the troubled people; Rejoice, having proclaimed His glory among the nations. Rejoice, wonderful vegetation of the Church; Rejoice, summer-blooming decoration of the heavenly gardens. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the Paradise of Christ blossoms in beauty. Kontakion 4 A furious storm of anger was raised against you by Memertin, the idolatrous priest, when his son, who looked at your work without danger, with a stone’s eye, suddenly torn away, was gored, and many blasphemies were belched against you, a worker of kindness, the lips of those who had not yet heard the song: Alleluia. Ikos 4 Having heard the blasphemies of many and the fear of the fierce and embittered Memertin, this meek Florus and Laurus received without fear and, having been filled with compassion, showed great boldness of faith, when the youth was wounded, safe and sound, to present to his father, promising; We, marveling at the faith, meekness and hope of the saints, sing to them like this: Rejoice, equal to the angels of meekness incarnate; Rejoice, great correction of faith. Rejoice, having blessed the one who slandered; Rejoice, the one who cursed you and did you good. Rejoice in God, Helper and Defender, who have trusted; Rejoice, you who have found refuge and confirmation in God. Rejoice, you who walked in kindness before the Lord; Rejoice, you who have never fainted in your trust in Him. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the Paradise of Christ blossoms in beauty. Kontakion 5 God-bearing stars appeared, O holy youth, whose carnal eye was gored by the breaking of a stone; For hold fast to you, not only have you been healed from your wound, but you have also received spiritual sight, through your preaching you have been taught to know the True God and cry out to Him in joy: Alleluia. Ikos 5 Seeing the great miracle manifested in his son, and his father Memertin followed him, he rejected the idolatrous charm, the True God, like the son, was known and by confession of the goodness of the two glorious martyrs of compassion, even as we now sing, calling: Rejoice, miracle workers predictions; Rejoice, physician of the spirit. Rejoice, you who have overthrown the idolatrous charm of miracles; Rejoice, you who have illuminated foolish souls with the light of faith. Rejoice, you who turned away the idolatry priest from idolatry and united with Christ; Rejoice, and you have rescued his son from the enemy’s snares. Rejoice, affliction of demons; Rejoice, joy of the angels. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the Paradise of Christ blossoms in beauty. Kontakion 6 The preacher of true love appeared to the holy martyrs, who, while doing their work, gave away the price for their labor to the poor and, feeding the hungry with sufficient nourishment, themselves remained in fasting and deprivation without complaining, wakingly chanting to God: Alleluia. Ikos 6 The light of the ineffable glory of heaven arose and illuminated the temple, created by the hands of Florus and Laurus, and not as a receptacle for idols, but consecrated for the glory of the Name of Jesus Christ, the people who saw that light, all the idols of idols, prepared for that temple, were crushed by the builder of the temple. I cried out: Rejoice, you who have illuminated us with the light of God’s understanding; Rejoice, you who have dispelled the darkness of idolatry. Rejoice, having freed us from the charms that held us back; Rejoice, you who showed us the true path of life. Rejoice, for the Church is filled with the fragrance of honor; Rejoice, for you have driven away the stench of the enemy far away. Rejoice, bold defeat of demons; Rejoice, red assignment to God. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the Paradise of Christ blossoms in beauty. Kontakion 7 Those who wish to go back peacefully to the holy brethren, after the end of their work, without their rank, may the cruel employer forbid them; having tied them up and beaten them, as if they were evildoers, he took them to the ruler Lykion, confessed Christ as God, and taught people to cry out to Him: Alleluia. Ikos 7 A new and fierce torment is prepared for you, holy passion-bearers, ruler, when you return bound and wounded for Christ into your country, but the firmness of your faith is by no means shaken, but we, gratifying your patience, cry to you: Rejoice, you who have suffered Christ ; Rejoice, having reigned with Him. Rejoice, you who have gained patience in your souls; Rejoice, you have received the promise in heaven. Rejoice, having looked to the Author of faith and Finisher, the Lord Jesus; Rejoice, you have done well for the feat set before you. Rejoice, encouragement to the faint-hearted; Rejoice, consolation for those who suffer. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the paradise of Christ blooms beautifully. Kontakion 8 Human cruelty invented a strange and terrible death for the meekest brothers Florus and Laurus: they cast him into a waterless treasure chest and sprinkled earth in it; So I want wickedness to drown out the voice of the saints crying to God: Alleluia. Ikos 8 The whole world is not worthy of you, holy martyrs: for you, having not found a place for yourself on earth, have settled in heaven and, as true citizens of the fatherland there, have won, serving your King and Lord with unceasing praises, let us also praise these God-praising ones with praise: Rejoice, O earthly negligence; Rejoice, having fixed your mind on heaven. Rejoice, the night of earthly life has passed well; Rejoice, you who have reached the Kingdom of Christ on the day of no evening. Rejoice like gold in the crucible of torment and temptation; Rejoice, for all fruitfulness sacrificed by God is accepted. Rejoice, having endured torment in the face of men; Rejoice, for your hope of immortality is fulfilled. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the Paradise of Christ blossoms in beauty. Kontakion 9 “Whoever confesses Me before men, let us also confess him before My Father,” says the Lord; According to this word of the Lord, you, the passion-bearers Flora and Lavra, as good confessors of Christ, are naturally glorified before the Heavenly Father and with all the saints you call to the Holy Trinity: Alleluia. Ikos 9 The orbit of this world cannot express the greatness of the feat of the holy passion-bearers, just as the wisdom of this age cannot contain the word of the cross; We, in humility, by the violence of preaching about the Crucified One, save Flora and Laurus, as if they had rejected themselves and their souls for Christ’s sake, we undoubtedly glorify, calling to them like this: Rejoice, you who confessed Christ before men; Rejoice, for the Lord Himself confessed you before the Angels of God. Rejoice, you were not ashamed of the passions of the Lord Jesus Christ; Rejoice, those who suffered for the sake of the gospel of Christ. Rejoice, for the Lord has given you a strong feat; Rejoice, for a holy mind has been given to you from the Most High. Rejoice, for the sparks have flown along the stem to heaven; Rejoice, during your visit your goodness shone forth. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the Paradise of Christ blossoms in beauty. Kontakion 10 We pray you to be intercessors for our salvation, holy martyrs, who suffered well and were married, and for this sake you received grace; Pray for us, and, having been delivered from the vain work of the enemy, we cry out to God with gratitude: Alleluia. Ikos 10 The builders of the stone walls sometimes formerly, but through firmness of faith, manifold torments and cruel death for Christ, having endured great boldness from Him, having gained great boldness from Him, they now pray for those who honor their memory faithfully, and in various troubles and adversities they overshadow those who reliably sing to them: Rejoice, Church of Christ pillars of steadfastness; Rejoice, the fence of the Christian faith is firm. Rejoice, strong affirmation in the faith of those who waver; Rejoice, in the sea of misfortunes there is a safe haven for the perishing. Rejoice, vial of gold, incense of fulfillment of prayers; Rejoice, you who drive away stinking passions far from us. Rejoice, prayer books warm to God; Rejoice, true intercessors. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the Paradise of Christ blossoms in beauty. Kontakion 11 The singing is incessant and the faces of the Royal City are filled with light, when, after the discovery of your many-healing relics, the holy martyr Flora and Lavra were brought and honestly placed in it, from them you received many wonderful healings, thanking God: Alleluia. Ikos 11 We are bathed in immaterial light, in the villages of the saints we are established and we are filled with indescribable joy, now you rejoice with the Angels of light, martyrs of the Lord, illuminate us too, covered by the darkness of vanities, embittered by the malice of this world and the only joy of those who have it, to run to you and sing to you. : Rejoice, having dispersed the darkness of charm; Rejoice, you who have illuminated the night of godlessness. Rejoice, for the unrighteous hatred has come upon the earth; Rejoice, you who have entered heaven into the joy of the Lord. Rejoice, you who have inherited an eternal life through many sorrows; Rejoice, for those who in sorrow and distress ask for consolation from the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, stars, who wear out the brilliance of patience; Rejoice, luminaries, enlightening the faithful souls. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the Paradise of Christ blossoms in beauty. Kontakion 12 Great grace has been given from the Most High to you, good sufferers, as if you came from great sorrow and sprinkled your vestments in the blood of the Lamb; For this reason, with all the saints, you stand before the Throne of God, calling out: Alleluia. Ikos 12 As you sing in your temple, we praise you, Flora and Lavra, as pious martyrs, who have labored in labor from their youth, who have maintained faith in the Indivisible Trinity and who have gone victoriously to Christ, who is now coming to Him, do not forget those who call to you: Rejoice, The King of Heaven has a great number of warriors; Rejoice, victorious crowns of good weddings. Rejoice, precious stone in the treasures of the Lord of Heaven; Rejoice, unexpendable wealth to the Church, to the militant lands. Rejoice, architects, for you have revealed the temple of the Divine Spirit within yourself; Rejoice, creators, who have established the souls of many on the immovable stone of faith. Rejoice, you are now illuminated by the radiance of heaven; Rejoice, you who drive away the darkness of heavy thoughts from us. Rejoice, Flora and Lavra, the Paradise of Christ blossoms in beauty. Kontakion 13 O glorious martyr to the duo Flora and Laurus, self-unity, honest praise to the Trinity of Saints! Having now accepted our singing, pray to the Lord for us, that he may deliver us from all troubles and sorrows, and grant us to remain in His Holy Church until the end, and that after our death and the last Judgment we may be worthy to sing to God with you and with all the saints: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos and the 1st kontakion Prayer to the holy martyrs Flora and Lavra Praises to the martyr Flora and Lavra, it is not the earth that has hidden you, but heaven has accepted you, so that you may be prayer books and intercessors for those who honor with honest love your memory. Pray for us, kindly hard workers, that the Lord will move us, in our labors and oppression, to do His commandments, not only about food and drink, but also about how to please the Lord; bless us with our sorrow and sighing, and may our souls not become embittered to the end, but may they be inflamed with love for each other, may we remain in peace and unanimity, like you, in self-bred bliss. Most of all, confirm us in the holy and right faith that is in our hearts, we will not be afraid of reproach and humiliation and any circumstances in which we are possessed, but since we have accepted this test of the strength of our faith with thanksgiving, we will keep the good confession, and in it we will pass on from this vale to the eternal Kingdom of our Lord, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Troparion to the martyrs Flora and Laurus Troparion, tone 4: Let us praise the most blessed and God-wise, bright duo of the faithful according to their heritage, Florus the blessed and Laurus the all-honorable, who diligently preached the Uncreated Trinity clearly to everyone. Moreover, the one who suffered received blood and wore bright crowns: pray to Christ God that He may save our souls. Kontakion, tone 8: Because the pious martyrs and sufferers of Christ are wise, the universe gloriously honors Florus and Laurus today: for let us obtain grace and mercy through their prayers, and be delivered from troubles and misfortunes, anger and sorrow on the day of judgment. Greatness We magnify you, passion-bearers of Saints Flora and Lavra, and honor your honest sufferings, which you naturally endured for Christ.
Reading rules
Prayers are a gift people receive from God. Through them, people have the opportunity to convey their requests to the saints, feel involved with the Higher powers, and receive real help.
- It is advisable to contact the saints in church. The setting of the temple, many icons, and prayer chants give peace and a feeling of peace. If this is not possible, then you can pray at home in front of the icon of Florus and Laurus with a lit church candle.
- When reading a prayer, there should not be a shadow of doubt that help may not come. Doubts kill faith. And without faith there is no salvation.
- It is better to pray out loud, but mental prayer is no less powerful. The main thing is to pronounce it as sincerely as possible, fill it with feelings and understanding.
- You need to pronounce the words of the prayer clearly, remembering that each of them contains grains of truth and power.
- You cannot pray hastily. Only by pacifying the bustle and calming your thoughts can you pass prayer through your heart and feel the joy of communicating with Heavenly helpers.
Prayers addressed to saints are precious for believers, as they fill life with Divine light, instill hope and peace.
