Hajnalka Tamas - Scio unum Deum... qui est trinus et unus Deus: The Relevance of Creedal Elements in the Passio Donati, Venusti et Hermogenis

The proposed paper stems from the research carried out thus far on two interconnected passiones of Pannonian martyrs: the Passio Pollionis (BHL 6869) and the Passio Donati, Venusti et Hermogenis (BHL 2309), as part of my PhD project on Pannonian Christianity in Late Antiquity. Textual borrowings and the similar fate of relics connect the two cases: Pollio’s relics travelled from Pannonia to Ravenna probably at the end of the 4^th century, Donatus’ to Aquileia in early 5^th century. The scholarly opinion is that, inspired by the Passio Pollionis, the Passio Donati was composed in 5^th century Aquileia. In my paper I will propose a new chronological setting for its composition. My analysis will approach the text from a socio-ecclesial perspective, contributing to its accurate historical contextualization. I will bring forward two arguments never discussed before in secondary literature.

The first argument concerns the creedal statement in the Passio Donati. Trinitarian in nature, it does not occur in our passio’s “source text” (the Passio Pollionis); hence, it seems to be deliberately inserted. Such a complex creedal passage (e.g. trinus et unus Deus) is altogether unexpected in a narrative referring to / purportedly reflecting a persecution in the beginning of the 4^th century. Instead, its relevance is crucial for the second half of that century. Therefore, the creedal insertion provides a new compositional dimension: it speaks about the author’s aims and the mind-set of the target audience. It is my thesis that the passio was written in and for an anti-heretic context. The martyrs die not just for the sake of Christianity, but for one specific brand, deemed as the sole veritable Christian faith. As to the envisaged heresy, Arianism seems to be the most convenient, especially as it had a long history in the Middle Danube provinces and in Northern Italy. My second argument, reinforcing the first, links the redaction of the Passio Donati to the celebration of Pollio’s cult (and the possible presence of his relics and Passio) in Ravenna. 

This research will combine textual and socio-historical aspects. The considerations obtained will enable a deeper understanding of the complex functionality inherent to this martyr-narrative (anti-heretic, catechetic, identity-defining), having repercussions on the date of its composition. At the same time, the paper will shed light on another piece of the puzzle that is the late 4^th century anti-Arian Northern Italy.