Saint Minias of Florence is respected as the first Christian martyr of Florence. According to Church legend, Minias was an Armenian noble serving in the...

Saint Minias of Florence is respected as the first Christian martyr of Florence. According to Church legend, Minias was an Armenian noble serving in the Roman Army who decided to become a hermit near Florence. He was brought before Emperor Decius in 250 AD after being denounced as a Christian. When he would not sacrifice to Roman gods, he was tortured and then beheaded. This work is kept in the Florence Antiphonary archiepiscopal archive, and dates from the 12th century. A large work, it includes an antiphon for the first vespers, two invitatory antiphons, a matins of three complete morning prayers, five antiphons for lauds and six antiphons called in evangelium that were used as the canticles of praise and for vespers on holy days.