Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style

What did St. Lawrence say about the treasures of the church?

Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Before his arrest by the Roman emperor Valerian, St. Lawrence is said to have given the church’s riches to the poor and the sick. When the emperor offered to spare Lawrence’s life if he surrendered the church’s treasures, Lawrence assembled all the poor before Valerian and told him, “These are the treasures of the church.”