Brittone, Saint

BRITTONE, saint. – Bishop of Trier from 373 to 386; in 374 he took part in the Council of Valence. He participated in the Roman Council of 382 as primate, in fact though not by right, 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 s. Ambrose of Milan. However, after returning to his homeland, he did not concern himself with exercising his office as primate. He welcomed the refugee Itacius, bishop of Ossobona, persecuted by the Priscillianists. He obtained from the usurper Maximus that they be tried and condemned (386). He died in 386 and is celebrated as a saint in the diocese of Trier on 5 May.