Saint Lawrence († 258) was a deacon of the Church of Rome under Pope Sixtus II. Responsible for the administration of the Church's property and the care of the poor, he was arrested under the Emperor Valerian during the persecutions against Christians. Ordered to deliver the wealth of the Church, he presented the poor and the sick, saying: "Here are the true treasures of the Church". As punishment, he was martyred by being burned alive on a grill. According to tradition, he kept his sense of humor by saying: "Turn me over, I'm cooked enough on this side". He is the patron saint of deacons, cooks and firefighters. His cult has spread to Lorraine and France, where many churches are dedicated to him.
