Legendary biographies speak of this st. Donát that he was a bishop in the city of Arezzo and that after many wonderful experiences he died as a martyr during the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate on August 7, 362.
From serious historical sources we learn that St. Donat was indeed the bishop of Arezzo in the middle of the 4th century, the second after St. Satire. However, these documents say nothing about martyrdom. In fact, at least two of them clearly call him "episcopus et confessor", ie a bishop and a believer, not a martyr. On the contrary, at that time the Church was developing rapidly throughout Italy, thanks in large part to the zealous bishops, including St. Donát.
Naturally, nothing went easy, and surely Donat had to overcome many difficulties for which his contemporaries could call him a martyr in the broadest sense of the word. The later legendary biographer then added a report of martyrdom to other historically unsubstantiated claims.
Sv. Bishop Donát was first buried on the western outskirts of the city of Arezzo, where the old dome was built. But after the construction of a new Gothic cathedral inside the city (in 1278-1510), the saint's remains were transferred to it. They are now stored in an art box from the 14th century.
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