BRITTO, St.
Bishop of Trier from 373 to 386; in 374 he took part in the Council of Valence. He attended the Roman Council of 382 as primate, in fact if not in law, of all the churches of Gaul. This explains why in the letter of the Fathers to the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople (381–82) his name appears immediately after those of Pope Damasus and St Ambrose of Milan. However, on his return home he neglected to exercise his office as primate. He gave refuge to the refugee bishop Itacius of Ossobona, who had been persecuted by the Priscillianists. He obtained from the usurper Maximus that they should be tried and condemned (386). He died in 386 and is celebrated as a saint in the diocese of Trier on 5 May.
BIBL.: Fliche-Martin-Frutaz, III, pp. 303, 473, 476. Ireneo Daniele