The gilt sarchophagus contains the ashes of St. Theodore, Venice's first patron saint. He was later rather unceremoniously dumped when St. Mark came along, although he is still venerated. He was prayed to - to ward off storms. He was a logical first choice for Venice considering her dependency on the sea. The painting above the sarchophagus is St. Theodore by P. Mera. The painting to the right is the Martyrdom of St. Theodore by the schoolof Bonifacio.
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