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Saint Lawrence is also the name of a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario and a river in North America. The People's Republic of China also has a St. Lawrence Parish in Macau.
Saint Lawrence (Laurentius in Latin) was one of the seven deacons of Rome, where he was martyred in 258. Legend reports that he was a native Spaniard, but received religious instruction from Archdeacon Sixtus in Rome. When Sixtus became Pope in 257, Lawrence was ordained a deacon and was placed in charge of the administration of Church goods and care for the poor.
In the persecutions under emperor ValerianValerian may mean: Valerian, two genera of garden plants Emperor Valerian I, Roman emperor 253-260 Valerian, Bishop of Rome, (d. 457), bishop of Rome Valerian, a comics character. in 258, numerous priestA priest or priestess is a holy man or woman who takes an officiating role in worship of any religion, with the distinguishing characteristic of offering sacrifices. Priests have been known since the earliest times and in the simplest societies (see shamas and bishopA bishop is an ordained person who holds a specific position of authority in any of a number of Christian churches. Bishops in the New Testament The bishop's role is typically called the " episcopacy", because the word "bishop" is derived ultimately froms were put to death, while Christians belonging to the nobility or the senateA senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. The word senate is derived from the Latin word senex (old man), via the Latin word senatus (senate). The Latin word senator has been adopted by English with no change in s were deprived of their goods and exiled. Pope Sixtus II was one of the first victims of this persecution, being crucified on August 6August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. Events 1806 Francis I, the last Holy Roman Emperor, abdicates, thus ending the Holy Roman Empire. 1825 Bolivia gains independence from Peru.. A legend cited by (Saint) AmbroseSaint Ambrose Latin Sanctus Ambrosius Italian Sant'Ambrogio (circa 340 April 4, 397), bishop of Milan, was one of the most eminent fathers of the Christian church in the 4th century. A man of vigorous mind, trained as a lawyer, of unwearying zeal and unco of MilanThis is about the Italian city of Milan. For other uses, see Milan (disambiguation). Milan Milano in the Italian language, and Milan in Milanese dialect, from Latin, Mediolanum with the meaning of 'in the middle of the plain') is the main city in northern says that Lawrence met the Pope on his way to his execution, where he is reported to have said, "Where are you going, my dear father, without your son? Where are you hurrying off to, holy priest, without your deacon? Before you never mounted the altar of sacrifice without your servant, and now you wish to do it without me?" The Pope is reported to have prophesied that "after three days you will follow me". Modern scholars tend to dismiss this scene as having been impossible in the situation.
After the Pope's death, the prefect of Rome demanded that Lawrence turn over the riches of the Church. Lawrence asked for three days to gather the wealth. After this, Lawrence worked to distribute as much Church property to the poor as possible, so as to prevent its being seized by the prefect. On the third day, he presented himself to the prefect, and when ordered to give up the treasures of the Church, he presented the poor, the crippled, the blind and the suffering, and said that these were the true treasures of the Church.
According to legend, he was roasted to death on a grill near the field of Verano in Rome, punctuated the saint's quip shortly before his death: "The meat is almost ready. Turn and eat." Many modern scholars hold death by decapitation to be more likely. His death occurred on August 10, 258, which since then is celebrated as his feast day.
Despite the various legends that have sprung up about Lawrence, his existence as a historical figure is beyond question, as well as the site and year of his death.