FLAGS ON THE BELL TOWER
TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016
Feast of the Consecration of the Church in San Donato
Today we remember the day when our Church was consecrated to God in honor of St. Donato, by Bishop Gerardo, Patriarch of Ravenna on February 2, 1188 ; at that time it was called San Donato alla Torre.
On that day many people gathered in the plain, because Gerardo delivered the crusader vestments to the Florentines, for the departure from here of the third crusade. The prior Bono delivered to the crusaders the banner of San Donato that was flying on the church.
To commemorate the historical event, four banners fly on the bell tower:
1. that of the crusaders who left our church;
2. in antithesis to it, the one that bears the olive branch, symbol of peace (the symbol was wanted by Don Bencini to remind us that peace is the most important good and that wars are not waged in the name of God, as current events also show us);
3. the one that bears the coat of arms of the monastery of S.Donato, in homage to the Cistercian nuns who adorned the church with frescoes,
4. the one with the coat of arms of the Demidoffs, who lived in San Donato for about 60 years and at least partially saved the church.
The Demidoff coat of arms, which has undergone various versions over the years, consists of a large shield surmounted by a crown, a Russian noble symbol. In the center of the shield there are three rods (a tool used for metal prospecting), a miner's hammer (as a symbol of the Ural mines owned by the Demidoffs, sources of their enormous wealth also bestowed on the city of Florence) and a golden band (also a symbol of the noble dignity of the Demidoffs).
On the sides of the shield there are two large Greek crosses (coat of arms of the city of Florence) and two silver lilies (symbol of the municipality of Florence). The title of Princes of S. Donato was granted to the Demidoffs by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Leopold II for the great charitable works carried out by them in favor of Florence, so much so that they received the placement of a small panel on the facade of the Cathedral of Florence for the economic contributions given for the works carried out on it.
Today's frenetic way of life makes us so hasty and distracted that we do not even remember that we own such a precious bell tower: small, but so significant for its history. We pass under it and often do not look at it.
Today, a church holiday, it is not possible to ignore it: we want to remember its value, starting from the times when it represented a vital sign of reference among the few in this area.
Every day, with the ringing of bells or when it is enhanced by the lights and colors of the festive flags, it calls us and makes us feel its living presence.
We can be proud of it!