Saint Donatus

Life

Bishop of Euroea in Albania. He was endowed by God with a great grace of wonderworking, and he performed many miracles for the benefit of the people. Thus he turned bitter water into sweet; he brought rain in a time of drought; he healed the emperor's daughter of madness; he raised a dead man. This dead man had repaid a debt to a certain creditor. But the unscrupulous creditor wished to collect the debt a second time, and taking advantage of the death of his debtor, he came to the man's widow and demanded that she pay the debt at once. The widow wept and complained to the bishop. Saint Donatus admonished the creditor to wait until the man was buried, and then they would discuss the debt. But the creditor angrily insisted on his claim. Then Donatus approached the dead man, took hold of him, and cried out: "Arise, brother, and see what thou hast to settle with thy creditor!" Then the dead man rose, and with a fearsome gaze looked upon his creditor, and told him when and where he had paid the debt. And he further demanded from the creditor his written obligation. The terrified creditor placed the document in his hands, and the revived dead man tore it up, then lay down again and fell asleep in peace. Saint Donatus reposed peacefully in deep old age and departed to the Lord in the year 387. His holy relics still rest for the benefit of the faithful in Euroea in Albania.