Donatian and Rogatian

Donatian and Rogatian
St. Donatian
Died	around 288-290 Nantes
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church
Feast	May 24

Donatian and Rogatian were two brothers, martyred in Nantes during the reign of Roman Emperor Maximian, around 288-290, for refusing to deny their faith. They are also known as les enfants nantais. Their feast day is May 24.

The story of St. Donatian and his brother St. Rogatian is known from a 5th century document, "the Passion of Children of Nantes". This is the basis for all later works, which also added some extra information to the legend, for example the tradition that they were related to a "illustrious" Armorican family.

St. Donatian and St. Rogatian were, it seems, the sons of the first magistrate of the city. Donatian, the youngest, was baptized (probably by St. Similien, third bishop of Nantes, who outlived them). Donatian then evangelized his older brother, Rogatian. The family property, a Gallo-Roman villa, also home to the first Christian church built in Nantes, stood on the site of the current Basilica of St. Donatien-et-Saint-Rogatien. According to tradition, the church was built at the location of their graves, which was in their home, as was customary.

According to the story, after being denounced as Christians, they were arrested and appeared before the imperial prefect, the provincial governor, who asked them to sacrifice to idols. When they refused, they were tortured and spent their last night praying together. That night, Rogatian regretted that he was going to die without being baptized, but his brother reassured him, telling him that the blood of his martyrdom would take the place of baptism.

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