The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Donatius the Presbyter
fl. AD 320 (death unrecorded) · Presbyter of Cirta · Cirta (Constantina), Numidia
The Nicene Age
Who Donatius the Presbyter was
A presbyter named in Fortis’ letter among those who knew the whole story. The name-form is uncertain in the manuscript and editors have read the phrase differently; he is not Donatus of Carthage, and not Donatus the friend of Cyprian.
Named once, in the Gesta apud Zenophilum — the Cirta records of 19 May 303 and 13 December 320; no other ancient source names him.
Common questions
When was Donatius active?
Donatius the Presbyter is dated fl. AD 320 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Donatius in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
Which early sources mention Donatius?
Donatius the Presbyter is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Gesta apud Zenophilum. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Donatius from?
The archive associates Donatius the Presbyter with Cirta (Constantina), Numidia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Donatius’ contemporaries?
The archive links Donatius the Presbyter to 3 other figures, including Fortis, Possessor and Valerius. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
The trial before Domitius Zenophilus, 13 December 320
c. AD 320‘…you, Possessor, Donatius the priest, and Valerius and Victor, each of you, who know all that was done…’Gesta apud Zenophilum · Gesta apud Zenophilum, trial of 13 December 320 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Donatius, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.