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SAINT DONATUS SAINT DONATUS

Bishop Bishop ofof Lefkas Lefkas 283-303 A.D283-303 A.D

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The little church of The little church of saint Donatus in saint Donatus in Lefkas islandLefkas island

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The church of the saint in The church of the saint in the plateau of Egklouvi/ the plateau of Egklouvi/

Lefkas islandLefkas island is built in a region that has been is built in a region that has been

habituated by the antiquity. habituated by the antiquity. is an old manufacture thatis an old manufacture that has has

been rebuilt inbeen rebuilt in 1980. 1980. before the renovation was before the renovation was

dedicated in the memory of Saint dedicated in the memory of Saint Dometius from Persia. Dometius from Persia.

celebrates oncelebrates on 7/8 7/8

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Modern (1995)Modern (1995) icon icon of of the the Saint from the Saint from the homonym temple homonym temple

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Other places namedOther places named S. Donatus in the area S. Donatus in the area Little church in Kalamos Little church in Kalamos

island, at S. island, at S. Constantinos beach, on Constantinos beach, on the way to village of the way to village of Episkopi.Episkopi.

The second (alt. 1131m) The second (alt. 1131m) peak of mountain Aenos peak of mountain Aenos in Cephalonia island in Cephalonia island (known better as Agia (known better as Agia Dynati)Dynati)

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What we know today about this What we know today about this saintsaint

He is not represented in modern books of He is not represented in modern books of any Christian Church. any Christian Church.

The residents of the region demonstrate The residents of the region demonstrate the ruins of an old tower, in a the ruins of an old tower, in a neighbouring area, where according a neighbouring area, where according a local tradition, saint Donatus was killed , local tradition, saint Donatus was killed , by falling in the void. by falling in the void.

Mr D. Petritsopoulos (1824), reports that Mr D. Petritsopoulos (1824), reports that this saint was referring in a manuscript of this saint was referring in a manuscript of Soumela's monastery in Pontos area, Soumela's monastery in Pontos area, which has been discovered in 1550 A.Dwhich has been discovered in 1550 A.D. .

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Description of his life Description of his life

He was the third bishop of the He was the third bishop of the bishopric of Lefkas, depended -on bishopric of Lefkas, depended -on these times-of the church of Rome. these times-of the church of Rome.

He undertook his rank in 283 A.D. He undertook his rank in 283 A.D. He testified in 303 A.D. during the He testified in 303 A.D. during the

persecutions of Emperor Diocletian persecutions of Emperor Diocletian (284-305 A.D.). (284-305 A.D.).

His memory is honoured (only by the His memory is honoured (only by the residents of Egklouvi/Lefkas) on 7/8 residents of Egklouvi/Lefkas) on 7/8

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Why isn't Why isn't hehe reported reported in the in the church books?church books?

He was a local Saint, in a small bishopric He was a local Saint, in a small bishopric which, initially, was belonging to the which, initially, was belonging to the Western Church and later ( after 732 A.D.) to Western Church and later ( after 732 A.D.) to Eastern Church.Eastern Church.

In the Western Church, the adoration of In the Western Church, the adoration of Saint Donatus, bishop of Arezzo (whose Saint Donatus, bishop of Arezzo (whose memory is celebrated on 7/8) has been memory is celebrated on 7/8) has been prevailed. prevailed.

In the Eastern Church, the adoration of Saint In the Eastern Church, the adoration of Saint Donatus, bishop of Euroia ( whose memory Donatus, bishop of Euroia ( whose memory is celebrated on 30/4) has been prevailed.is celebrated on 30/4) has been prevailed.

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Saint Donatus bishop Saint Donatus bishop of Arretium (=Arezzo)of Arretium (=Arezzo)

was bornwas born in N in Nicicomomeeddiiaa, a , a city in city in AsAsiiaa Minor Minor. .

was elected second was elected second bishop of bishop of the the city city of of Arretium (Arretium (::todaystodays Arezzo Arezzo of of Toscana/ Toscana/ ItalyItaly) ) inin 346 346 AA..DD. .

died in aboutdied in about 362 362 AA..DD. . is patron saint of the city is patron saint of the city

of Arezzo (popul. 96000)of Arezzo (popul. 96000)

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Saint Donatus bishop Saint Donatus bishop of Euroiaof Euroia

became bbecame bishop ishop of of EEuuroroiia, a, ((an an ancient city in Epirus/ Greece ancient city in Epirus/ Greece which was a which was a bishopricbishopric belonging belonging to the to the church of Romechurch of Rome)) in in 360 360 AA..DD. .

pparticipated in the Oecumenical articipated in the Oecumenical SessionSession of 381 A.D., of 381 A.D., during the during the reign of Theodosius the Great.reign of Theodosius the Great.

ddiedied in in 388 388 A.D. A.D. is patron saint of the city of is patron saint of the city of

Paramythia/Greece (popul.10000)Paramythia/Greece (popul.10000)

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Why only DonatWhy only Donatuuss of of EEuuroroiia is reported in the a is reported in the “Synaxaria” books “Synaxaria” books of of Eastern Church? Eastern Church? ““Synaxaria” are the official books of the Eastern Synaxaria” are the official books of the Eastern

Christian Church, representing the lives of main Christian Church, representing the lives of main saints of this Church.saints of this Church.

Initially the lives of the three Saints of 4th century Initially the lives of the three Saints of 4th century A.D. were written in Latin language, the official A.D. were written in Latin language, the official language of Western Church. language of Western Church.

The “Synaxaria” of the Eastern Church were written The “Synaxaria” of the Eastern Church were written later, (about in the 10th century) in the Greek later, (about in the 10th century) in the Greek language, supported exclusively in Greek sources. language, supported exclusively in Greek sources.

The life of bishop of Euroia was included in these The life of bishop of Euroia was included in these books, because it had been translated in Greek by books, because it had been translated in Greek by Greek-speaking refugees of his bishopric, who had Greek-speaking refugees of his bishopric, who had resorted in the current city Umbriatico of Calabria/ resorted in the current city Umbriatico of Calabria/ Italy Italy

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Information coming from Information coming from texts of the Christian texts of the Christian

ChurchChurch The texts of the church referring to The texts of the church referring to

saints’ lives are not distinguished for saints’ lives are not distinguished for their historical precision.their historical precision.

They are nothing more than oral They are nothing more than oral traditions that in a certain time were traditions that in a certain time were recorded by a certain faithful. recorded by a certain faithful.

The available texts of saint Donatus The available texts of saint Donatus have been written a long time after his have been written a long time after his death, and that’s why they don’t death, and that’s why they don’t describe the life of a certain person but describe the life of a certain person but they are rather a fusion of biographical they are rather a fusion of biographical elements of some different homonym elements of some different homonym Saints. Saints.

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For exampleFor example: Saint : Saint Donatus’ fight against Donatus’ fight against

DragonDragon According the life of S. Donatus According the life of S. Donatus

of Euroia (of Euroia (written by the monk written by the monk Nikodemus from the Holly Nikodemus from the Holly MountainMountain) the saint killed a ) the saint killed a dragon that was poisoning a dragon that was poisoning a source of water.source of water.

DonatDonatuuss of of Arezzo in the Arezzo in the Western iconography is always Western iconography is always portrayed as young or mportrayed as young or miidddle dle ageagedd bishop bishop who who has ahas a sword sword and fights and fights a a dradragon.gon.

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Who killed the dragon?Who killed the dragon?

It is obvious thatIt is obvious that,, initially initially,, the the fight fight against the dragonagainst the dragon was attributed was attributed to to one one ofof the two Saints the two Saints..

The long-lasting coexistence of the two The long-lasting coexistence of the two synonyms saints in the spiritual events synonyms saints in the spiritual events of Western Church created oral of Western Church created oral traditions where, a mixture of their traditions where, a mixture of their biographical profile was born. biographical profile was born.

The writers of their lives who came The writers of their lives who came latter, simply recorded these traditions latter, simply recorded these traditions and, that way, they transported this and, that way, they transported this confusion diachronically. confusion diachronically.

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From “From “Passio Donati”, Passio Donati”, a text of 6a text of 6thth century century A.D.A.D.““The Bishop The Bishop (:S.Donatus)(:S.Donatus) was celebrating was celebrating Mass with his two deacons – Antimus and Mass with his two deacons – Antimus and Asterius – during an ordination rite. Asterius – during an ordination rite. Some pagans entered the church while Some pagans entered the church while Antimus was giving the communion from a Antimus was giving the communion from a glass chalice, and with violence they glass chalice, and with violence they threw it on the ground, shattering it to threw it on the ground, shattering it to pieces. After having put together all pieces. After having put together all the pieces, Saint Donatus found that one the pieces, Saint Donatus found that one piece was still missing at the bottom of piece was still missing at the bottom of the chalice, but unconcerned about the the chalice, but unconcerned about the matter, continued to serve the wine, matter, continued to serve the wine, without even a drop falling out of the without even a drop falling out of the chalice.chalice.This fact so astonished the pagans, that This fact so astonished the pagans, that it caused their conversion. A month it caused their conversion. A month later, Saint Donatus was arrested and later, Saint Donatus was arrested and put to death with other Christiansput to death with other Christians.”.”

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Two oTwo observationsbservations and one and one question question

The tradition of the Western Church The tradition of the Western Church attributes this miracle to saint Donatus, attributes this miracle to saint Donatus, bishop of Arezzo.bishop of Arezzo.

But, in our days, the prevailing opinion is But, in our days, the prevailing opinion is that this saint did not testify, and died in that this saint did not testify, and died in peace in Arezzo. According the peace in Arezzo. According the specialists, the reports about his violent specialists, the reports about his violent death, are reports of an other unknown death, are reports of an other unknown saint Donatus, and there is a confusion saint Donatus, and there is a confusion here. here.

Who was martyr Donatus of Western Who was martyr Donatus of Western Church? Was he the Church? Was he the bishop of bishop of Lefkas?Lefkas?

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The remains of saint The remains of saint DonatusDonatus

The visitors of the church of Santa Maria of bishopric The visitors of the church of Santa Maria of bishopric of Torcello in Venice /Italy will find there the remains of Torcello in Venice /Italy will find there the remains of a Saint Donatus.of a Saint Donatus.

The Holly relics The Holly relics were transported there in 1126 A.D. were transported there in 1126 A.D. during the 2during the 2ndnd crusade, coming from Cephalonia / crusade, coming from Cephalonia / GreeceGreece

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The transportation of The transportation of the relicsthe relics

A report written A report written by Doge by Doge Domenico Micheli Domenico Micheli to the Venetian to the Venetian Senate refers that he found these Senate refers that he found these relics, relics, initially, initially, in Lefkas island.in Lefkas island.

According this report, Doge Micheli According this report, Doge Micheli movedmoved the relics from the island, the relics from the island, as they were as they were in danger because of in danger because of the frequent raids of barbarians.the frequent raids of barbarians.

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Are they the remains Are they the remains of bishop of Euroia?of bishop of Euroia?

This is the official opinion of Eastern Church.This is the official opinion of Eastern Church. According a letter of PopeAccording a letter of Pope Gregory the Great Gregory the Great

((590-604590-604 A.D.) to A.D.) to Alcyson, Bishop of Corcyra, Alcyson, Bishop of Corcyra, the relics of this saint had been transferred to the relics of this saint had been transferred to Corfu island by refugees of Euroia in the Corfu island by refugees of Euroia in the beginning of 7beginning of 7thth century A.D. century A.D.

Maybe, latter, the relics had been transferred Maybe, latter, the relics had been transferred by someone to Lefkas and then by by someone to Lefkas and then by Domenico Domenico Micheli Micheli to Cephalonia and Venice on 12to Cephalonia and Venice on 12thth century A.D.century A.D.

That’s why the Venetians celebrate the That’s why the Venetians celebrate the memory of saint Donatus on 30/4 instead of memory of saint Donatus on 30/4 instead of 7/8. 7/8.

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Are they the remains Are they the remains of bishop of Lefkas?of bishop of Lefkas?

This possibility fixes with the oral This possibility fixes with the oral tradition of people of Lefkas.tradition of people of Lefkas.

The refugees from Euroia (and normally The refugees from Euroia (and normally the remains of their bishop) had left the the remains of their bishop) had left the area before the 2area before the 2ndnd crusade and the crusade and the occupation of Lefkas by occupation of Lefkas by Domenico Domenico MicheliMicheli. We know that they had . We know that they had resorted resorted in South Italy on 10in South Italy on 10thth century A.D. as century A.D. as they wrote their saint’s life for the they wrote their saint’s life for the synaxars.synaxars.

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Map of the areaMap of the area

Lefkas

Cephalonia

Corfu

Euroia

Umbriatico

to Venice

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The bones of dragon killed by The bones of dragon killed by saint Donatus as are saint Donatus as are

represented in the church of represented in the church of S. Maria in Venice/ItalyS. Maria in Venice/Italy

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THE ENDTHE ENDThank you for your Thank you for your

attentionattentionStatue of saint Donatus with a dragon in FranceStatue of saint Donatus with a dragon in France