|
Icon of St. Donatus of Arezzo,
Bishop & Martyr (+ 362)
Feast:
Aug. 7
This Saint came with his family to the West,
from Nicodemia in the East. He was educated by the priest Pigmenius. As
a child he had as a classmate Julian (the later emperor Julian the
Apostate). Indeed, on Feb. 4, 362, Julian issued an edict ostensibly of
religious equality, but which benefitted paganism at the expense of
Christian faith. St. Donatus, his family, and his teacher Pigmenius
would all perish in the persecution which followed. Having been made
bishop at Arezzo, St. Donatus preached and wrought miracles. He
resurrected from the dead a woman named Euphrosina. He defeated a
dragon who had ruined a local well. The blind woman Syriana received
her sight through his prayer. Asterius, son of the prefect of Arezzo,
was afflicted by a demon, but St. Donatus drove out the devil and set
Asterius free. Once pagans attacked the church where the Saint was
celebrating the Holy Liturgy. They shattered the chalice which was
used, but the Saint, after intense prayer, collected the pieces
together. None of the Lord's Blood spilled. Amazed, 79 pagans converted
to the Christian faith. A month after this miracle, Quadratian the
prefect of Arezzo arrested a monk named Hilarian and the bishop
Donatus. St. Hilarian was martyred in 362 on July 16. St. Donatus was
beheaded upon Aug. 7. Holy Hieromartyr Donatus, pray to God for us!
Icon from the workshop "The Sign of Jonah" (il Segno di Giona) in
Italy, by an unknown hand.
|
