Donatus of Butrint

Holy Martyr Donatus of Butrint is commemorated on 23 April together with Therinus, as martyrs put to the sword. Butrint, the ancient Bothrotos, lies on the Albanian coast, in the Epirus of old. According to our record, he suffered around the year 250.

The synaxaria link to Bothrotos two saints named Donatus and Therinus, who lived more than a hundred years apart, but neither of them died as a martyr. For this reason the identification of the two martyrs of 23 April remains uncertain. Therinus lived in the time of Emperor Decius (249 to 251), was from Bothrotos, and confessed Christ before the governor Philip; after his tortures, miraculously healed, the governor accepted the faith. He lived another three and a half years and was buried at Bosrena. Donatus, principally commemorated on 30 April, was born at Bothrotos and was Bishop of Evorea in the time of Theodosius I.