In the third century, Saint Lawrence (Lauri in Finnish, from Laurentius) was a deacon of the Church in Rome and suffered martyrdom during Emperor Valerian’s persecution of Christians on August 10, 258. He had been ordered to deliver the property of the congregation in Rome to the Emperor. Lawrence, however, gave the money to the poor and brought them before the Emperor, saying they were the true treasure of the Church. Lawrence was first whipped, then put on a gridiron to be burned. Staying steadfast and calm in his pain, he is even said to have told his executioners, ‘I’m well done. Turn me over!’
Lawrence was one of the most famous Saints of the Middle Ages. In Finland, many churches are named Saint Lawrence’s after him, for instance, those at Lohja, Vantaa and Janakkala.
