Minias of Florence

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	October 25
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

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. According to legend, he was an Armenian king or prince serving in the Roman Army – or making a penitential pilgrimage to Rome – 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 amphitheater – from which he emerged unharmed. Finally, he was beheaded near the present Piazza della Signoria, 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 Fiorentinus (Monte di Firenze).

Minias’ relics rest in a crypt in the church dedicated to him, begun by Alibrando, Bishop of Florence, in 1013 and endowed by Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.