The Relic of St. Antoninus
The mummified relic of St. Antoninus
Category Relics and Reliquaries
Resting in the Dominican Church of San Marco in Florence is the 550 year-old mummified relic of St. Antoninus. His full body lies inside a glass coffin, dressed in his ornate archbishop’s garb. In the last 12 years of his life, Antoninus was made Archbishop against his wishes. He resisted so strongly that the current pope had to threaten him with excommunication if he didn't accept. Antoninus accepted, but continued to live like a monk. His only personal possessions were simple furniture and a mule.
His unembalmed body remained exposed for 8 days before it was buried in the glass coffin in 1459 where he remains today. Antoninus still looks as fresh and pious as the day he died, though one suspects that some cosmetic touches have been made over the years.
The church itself is considered something of a shrine to the Dominican order, due to the large number of paintings by the great Dominican artist, Fra Angelico.
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- Hours Monday-Friday, 8:15-1:50; Saturday-Sunday, 8:15- 6:50(Closed the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday and 2nd and 4th Monday of the month.)
- Address Piazza San Marco 1, Florence, Italy
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