Crypt of San Minato al Monte – Florence
Saint Minias or Minas (Armenian: Մինաս) was an Armenian prince serving in the Roman army under Emperor Decius. He was denounced as a Christian after becoming a hermit and was brought before the Emperor who was camped outside the gates of Florence in 250 AD. The Emperor Decius was persecuting Christians at the time. 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 panther at an amphitheater – from which he emerged unharmed after the panther refused to devour him. He was finally beheaded in the presence of the Emperor, but his legend states that he picked up his head, crossed the Arno and walked up the hill of Mons Fiorentinus to his hermitage. A shrine was later erected at this spot. The church of San Miniato al Monte…
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Notes of a Spurkahye Finally Come Home 