Mina Florentine

Mosaic depicts St. The miniature to the right of Christ holding the crown. The inscription reads: "S. MINIATUS REX ERMINIE"

Mina of Florence (died about 250 ) - the holy martyr of Florence . Memorial Day - October 25th .

Saint Minas, or Minias, or Miniato ( Arm. Մինաս ), or Minas is revered as the first martyr in Florence. According to legend, he was an Armenian prince, at first rich, callous and wasteful. After thinking and making a penitent pilgrimage to Rome , he retired to a cave near Florence, where he began to lead a hermit life . Saint Mina remained there until the time when Emperor Decius decided to put him to martyrdom. Wild animals refused to tear Miniato to pieces, and the fire went out, and then the saint was cut off his head . According to the life , after the execution the martyr raised his head and went to die in his native cave. Subsequently, around the 4th century , a chapel was erected there, and in 1018 Bishop decided to erect a church here, which for a long time was considered the most beautiful in the city.