DONATO, saint. - Bishop and patron of Arezzo. In an episcopal catalogue of Arezzo dating from the 11th century, he occupies second place, after Satiro.
According to the legendary Passio Donati (BHL, no. 2289), composed between the 5th and 6th centuries and apparently known also to s. Gregorio Magno (Dialoghi, I, 7), D. was a young Roman cleric when, during the persecution of Giuliano l'Apostata, he fled to Arezzo, where he was later ordained priest by Bishop Satiro. Upon the latter’s death, having been chosen as his successor by the clergy and the people, he came to Rome and was consecrated bishop of Arezzo by Pope Giulio (337–52); finally, he is said to have been martyred under the same Giuliano l'Apostata. In the Martiologia geronimiana, on the other hand, D. appears on the 7th as episcopus et confessor. His cult was very widespread also outside Italy.
(photo Alinari)