E03223: The Martyrdom of *Donatus and Hilarianus (martyrs of Arezzo under the emperor Julian, S01527) is written in Latin, presumably in Arezzo in central Italy, by the early 9th c., perhaps in the 7th or 8th c. It narrates Donatus’ education in Rome together with the emperor Julian, his flight to Arezzo where he stays with the monk Hilarianus, the miracles and conversions they perform, Donatus’ consecration as bishop of Arezzo, the martyrdom of the two saints, and Donatus’ burial near Arezzo.

Martyrdom of Donatus and Hilarianus (BHL 2289)

Summary:

In Rome, the priest (praesbyter) Pigmenius of the titulus Pastoris, instructs the reader (lector) Donatus on both worldly wisdom and divine teaching, together with the subdeacon (subdiaconus) Julian. When Julian becomes emperor he persecutes Christians. Pigmenius is jailed, Donatus’ father and mother are killed by the sword, and Donatus flees to Arezzo (oppidum Arrhetium), where he lives with the monk Hilarianus, earnestly praying, fasting and chanting psalms.

In the same city, a widow named Syramia, living with her pagan son, has been blind for nine years and cannot find any cure, despite having spent all her wealth. At that time, many sick people come to Donatus and Hilarianus and are cured after receiving food with a prayer. Hearing this, Syramia comes with her son named Herculius to Hilarianus and Donatus to be healed. Donatus agrees to cure her if she abandons idols and converts to the Christian faith. Her son brings the idols of Juno and Jupiter in a box and she breaks and burns them. Hilarianus and Donatus tell what happened to the bishop Saturius; he summons Syramia, asks her to state her belief, then initiates and baptises her. After receiving the chrism she regains sight. Syramia praises Christ with her son and goes home.

I, Apronianus, hearing about this, went at night to Arezzo and brought my possessed son to Donatus to be cured, in the house of bishop Saturius. Saturius, Donatus and Hilarianus prayed and my son was healed. From that day Donatus remains with the bishop; he is ordained a deacon then a priest.

When the governor (rector) of Tuscia and tax collector (exactor fisci) Eustasius is away collecting tax, enemies attack the province; his wife Euphrosyna hides the money then dies. When Eustasius comes back his wife is dead and he cannot find the money; he is arrested but escapes from prison and goes to ask Donatus for help. Then Donatus comes to Euphrosyna’s tomb and prays, asking her to reveal where she has hidden the money. A voice from the tomb tells them where to find it. Eustasius is thus freed. All start to admire and love Donatus. A few days later, Saturius dies and Donatus is elected as his successor. He is consecrated by the bishop Julius in Rome, then returns to Arezzo and celebrates his first mass with the deacon Anthimus. As the deacon brings the blood of Christ to the people in a chalice, he is hit by pagans, the chalice falls and is broken. Donatus takes the broken pieces and miraculously repairs it with a prayer. Many pagans convert and are baptised.

After 28 days, Quadratianus, augustalis, has Donatus and Hilarianus arrested, accusing them of using magic to retrieve the money and of converting people to Christianity against the orders of the emperor Julian. He summons them to offer sacrifice, but Donatus refuses. Donatus’ mouth is crushed with stones and he is sent to prison where he cures many sick Christians who come to visit him. Hearing this, Quadratianus orders Donatus to be beheaded in prison on the 7th day before the Ides of August [= 7 August]. Their bodies [this implies a lacuna in the text about Hilarianus’ death] are taken by Christians and buried near the city of Arezzo.

Text: Mombritius 1910, I, 416-418. Summary: M. Pignot.