Saint Minias | |
|---|---|
 Depiction in Palermo, Sicily | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | Armenia |
| Died | 250 AD Florence, Italy |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | San Miniato al Monte, Florence |
| Feast | 25 October[1] |
| Attributes | Depicted as a young prince holding a crown; crowned with a rod and palm; crowned with a lily, rod and palm; carrying his severed head[2] |
Saint Minias (Minas, Miniatus) (Italian: Miniato, Armenian: Մինաս) (3rd century) is venerated as the first Christian martyr of Florence. The church of San Miniato al Monte is dedicated to him.[3] According to legend, he was an Armenian king or prince serving in the Roman Army – or making a penitential pilgrimage to Rome[2] – who had decided to become a hermit near Florence.
He was denounced as a Christian and in 250 AD brought before Emperor Decius, who was persecuting Christians. Miniato refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods, and was put through numerous torments – he was thrown into a furnace, was lapidated, and was thrown to a lion or a panther at an amphitheatre – from which he emerged unharmed. Finally, he was beheaded near the present Piazza della Signoria,[2] but his legend states that he picked up his own head. Miniato then crossed the Arno and returned to his hermitage on the hill known as Mons Florentinus (Monte di Firenze).[4]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
santiwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c "St. Patrick Catholic Church: Saint of the Day". Saint Patrick Catholic Church. n.d. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
- ^ Hare, Augustus John Cuthbert (2002). Florence. Adamant Media Corporation. p. 204. ISBN 1-4021-5933-1.
- ^ Brucker, Gene (1998). Florence: The Golden Age, 1138–1737. University of California Press. pp. 194. ISBN 0-520-21522-2.