[Florence] San Miniato al Monte
The Walking Dead (Beheaded) Christian Saint (WTF O_o)
St. Miniato, also known as Minas in Armenian, was an Armenian prince who served in the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Decius.
After embracing Christianity and leading a hermitic life, he was discovered and accused of his faith. The Emperor, stationed outside the gates of Florence, ordered him to face wild beasts in the Amphitheatre. To everyone’s surprise, a panther summoned to attack him refused to harm him.
Despite this miraculous event, Miniato was beheaded in the Emperor’s presence. Legend has it that he then miraculously carried his severed head, crossed the Arno River, and ascended the hill of Mons Fiorentinus to return to his hermitage. A shrine was later constructed at this sacred site, and by the 8th century, a chapel had been established there.
The crypt is the oldest part of the church and the high altar supposedly contains the bones of St Minias himself (although there is evidence that these were removed to Metz before the church was even built). In the vaults are frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi.
