Saint Laurentius of Rome is the most famous bearer of the name Laurentius. He was born in Spain and died a martyr's death in 258. He was one of the seven deacons in the city of Rome, i.e. responsible for the finances and social work of the Church of Rome. According to tradition, when the Roman bishop Sixtus II was arrested and beheaded under the persecutor of Christians, Emperor Valerian (200-260), his deacon Laurentius was distraught that he was not deemed worthy to share this death. Sixtus comforted him with the promise that he would follow him in three days and commissioned him to distribute the church treasury to the suffering and poor. Emperor Valerian laid claim to these treasures. He asked for three days to think it over and during this time he distributed die Güter. The enraged Valerian had Laurentius tortured and finally ordered him to be slowly martyred to death over a fire on a grate. Even in this terrible torture, he kept his sense of humour and teased the executioner to turn him over on the fire, because the roast was already cooked on one side.
Laurentius is one of the most venerated saints of the Church and was given almost the importance of Peter and Paul. The church of S. Lorenzo fuori le mura was built over his grave in 330 by Emperor Constantine (285-337), and another 30 churches in Rome are named after him. The name (also Laurence) means "the laurel adorned one", his commemoration day is the day of his death 10 August. At this time in the annual vegetation cycle, the phase of grape ripening begins. The winegrowers offer their first grapes to him on this day. The St. Laur ent variety is also named after him. Shooting stars on August nights are called "Laurentius tears". Laurentius is the patron saint of Spain, the cities of Rome, Nuremberg, Duderstadt, Merseburg, Havelberg, Wuppertal and Kulm, as well as of cooks, brewers, innkeepers and vineyards in general.
He is responsible for the flourishing of the grapes. Calendar sayings are: 1) If St. Lawrence comes with a hot breeze - he fills the vintner's barrel and belly. 2) On Laurenzi, it is the custom, the wood stops growing. 3) If grapes and fruit are to multiply, the thunderstorms must end with St. Lawrence. The red grape variety St. Laurent, which comes from Alsace, is also named after the saint. See also under country sayings and wine saints.
Picture right: By Wolfgang Sauber - Own image, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
