Donatus (second half of 8th centuryZadar – first half of 9th century), also calledDonato of Zara, was a Dalmatian saint who became abishop and adiplomat for theDalmatian city-state of Zadar (Zara). His feast day is celebrated on 25 February.

Donatus is mentioned inFrankish annals from 805 as an ambassador of the Dalmatian cities toCharlemagne inThionville. Donatus is credited for initiating either construction or expansion of the Church of the Holy Trinity. The church was completed in the beginning of the 9th century and in the 15th century. Its name was later changed by the Venetians to theChurch of St. Donatus.^[1]

The church is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia, and was built upon the ruin of the old Roman forum,^[2] part of the forum's foundations can be seen today.

The marblesarcophagus in the cathedral preserves the relics of theSirmian martyrAnastasia with an inscription dating from Donatus' time. According to tradition, Donatus brought the relics to Zara from Constantinople, when he was there with theVenetian dukeBeato. They had been ordered by Charlemagne tonegotiate the border between theByzantine Empire and theCroatian territories that were under the dominion of Charlemagne'sFrankish Empire.

Donatus died around 811, and was buried in his Church of the Holy Trinity (today the Church of St. Donatus). After 1809, following the French occupation of Zadar, his bones were transferred to theCathedral of St. Anastasia where they lie to this date, and mass has not been celebrated at the church for around two centuries.

• Bishops of Zadar
• 8th-century bishops
• 9th-century bishops
• 8th-century Christian saints
• 9th-century Christian saints
• Illyrian people
• People from Dalmatia
• 8th-century Croatian people
• 9th-century Croatian people

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata