Maltese Cross Meaning In The Fire Service

They were later said to be awarded a badge of honor similar to the maltese cross.

Maltese cross meaning in the fire service. The history of the maltese cross by mica calfee. The maltese cross is the very familiar red center circle with four shapes emanating from the center. The maltese cross is our symbol of protection. The cross was later called the maltese cross and represented the principles of charity loyalty chivalry gallantry generosity to friend and foe protection of the weak and dexterity in service.

John in a battle on the island of malta they banded together to fight the flames and rescue the injured. Combined with their abilities to fight fires and the pride and honor they took in their work the maltese cross seems a fitting symbol of the modern fire service. There are eight points on the maltese cross each point symbolizing one the beatitudes given by jesus christ. Many people ask us what the connection is between the fire service and that maltese cross.

Many knights were called to perform. During the crusades many knights became fire fighters out of necessity. The maltese cross is an eight point symbol which originated during the crusades. All of this is true.

Both crosses retain historical significance relating to a group of individuals who battled fire and lived to serve others. The original meaning of the eight points of the maltese cross was the beatitudes as given by the lord jesus christ in the fifth chapter of the gospel of matthew 1 the working of these eight. But there is. John were also known for their care of the sick and injured.

Their enemies had resorted to throwing glass bombs containing naphtha and sailing their war vessels contain naphtha rosin sulphur and flaming oil into the vessels of the knights. While the symbolism of these eight knightly virtues hasn t changed over the years their working has. Firefighting is a proud profession and only a symbol of pride would exemplify the work of a firefighter. One can easily find a hundred web sites that will tell you that the symbol of the fire service comes from the knights of malta and their battles with ottoman pirates or the saracens.

It honors florian who organized firefighting units in the roman legions. The knights of st. The story is that these knights had a cross on their tunics and that the saracens used fire as a weapon against them. He was martyred for his faith by being burned alive.

What does the maltese cross represent. Fast forward to today the time honored maltese cross is being worn by the men and women of the fire service as a badge of honor on their uniforms all across the country. When fire was used against the knights of st. The answer isn t simple and neither is the history.

The maltese cross like we ve established symbolized a special breed.