Miniato, Saint, Martyr

MINIATO, saint, martyr. — A Passio s. Miniati, dating from before the ninth century or at least the tenth (BHL, 5965–66), recounts his beheading on the hill of Florence, which subsequently took the martyr’s name, on 25 October between 249 and 251, during the reign of Decius. It is impossible to establish the homeland and deeds of M., since the information derives from the legendary account of the Passio.

The existence of an early Christian cemetery on the hill where the basilica of S. M. stands has not been proved, nor has it been proved that the martyr’s tomb was located there in antiquity. In the diploma of Carlomagno, drawn up in 786–87, mention is made of the martyr’s relics, not of his entire body (MGH, Diplomata harolinorum, I, no. 155, p. 210). In 969 or 970, Teodorico, bishop of Metz, transported them to his city

residential city (MGH, Scriptores, IV, p. 476 and VI, p. 351). It is not impossible that these relics were eulogiae of the famous Egyptian martyr s. MENSA (v.), which had been widely disseminated in the East and the West since the 6th century. This hypothesis would also explain how the ancient Christians of Florence had built churches dedicated to Roman martyrs. A legend of the 13th century made s. M. the son of the king of Persia, or an Armenian king himself. He is also presented as a king by the inscription in the apse mosaic of S. Miniato, dating from the end of the aforementioned century.

The Roman Martyrology commemorates his feast on 25 October.