According to tradition, Donatus was martyred on August 7, 362 during the reign of
Julian the Apostate and was a native of Nicomedia.[1]
Legend
According to Severinus’ account, as a child Donatus came to
Saint Peter Damian would later write in his Sermones that "in the field of the Lord two sprigs, Donatus and Julian, grow together, but one will become a cedar of Paradise, the other coal for the eternal flames of Hell."[1]
On 4 February 362, Julian promulgated an edict to guarantee freedom of religion. This edict proclaimed that all the religions were equal before the law, and that the
penances and miracles.[1] Severinus' Passio states that Donatus brought back to life a woman named Euphrosina; fought and slew a dragon who had poisoned the local well;[2] gave sight back to a blind woman named Syriana; and exorcised a demon that had been tormenting Asterius, the son of the Roman prefect of Arezzo.[1]
Saint Satyrus of Arezzo, bishop of that city, and continued to preach in the city and in the surrounding region.[1] At the death of Satyrus, Donatus was appointed a bishop by Pope Julius I.[1] A man named Anthimus was Donatus' deacon.[1]
During a celebration of Mass, at the moment of the giving of
Saint Nonnosus, but the object is a shattered glass lamp.[4]
A month after this episode, the prefect of Arezzo, Quadratian, arrested Hilarinus the Monk and Donatus. Hilarinus was martyred on July 16, 362 and Donatus was beheaded on August 7 at Arezzo.[1]
Veneration
Church of Santa Maria e San Donato
In 1125, some of Donatus'
Church of Santa Maria e San Donato on the island of Murano, near Venice.[2]
The patron saints of Guardiagrele are Donatus of Arezzo and
Saint Emidius. Annually between the 6th and 8 August there is a festival celebrating these saints in which the effigy of Donatus is paraded around the streets of Guardiagrele. It is traditional to eat porchetta
(oven- or spit-roasted suckling pig flavoured with pepper, rosemary, garlic and other seasonings) at this time.
