Donatus of Fiesole
Irish teacher, poet, Bishop of Fiesole and saint
Feast: 22 October (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Donatus, of a noble Irish family, visited the tombs of the Apostles in Rome about 816. On his way north he entered Fiesole just as its people were praying for a bishop to deliver them, and was acclaimed as their bishop.
He renewed piety and learning in his Church, taught poetry himself, and wrote verses including a praise of Ireland. He was bishop from about 829 to 876.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.
Why that counted as sanctity
An Irish pilgrim who became the answer to a city's prayer for a bishop.
Connected on this site
- Andrew the Scot Saint“Andrew the Scot (also known as Andrew of Tuscany and Andrew of Fiesole) was the Irish-born student and assistant of Donatus of Fiesole.” — Wikipedia
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Donatus
- Wikidata Q544904 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Donatus of Fiesole (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.