Britonius

ON ST. BRITONIUS

BISHOP OF TRIER.

ABOUT A.D. CCCLXXXVI

Britonius, Bishop of Trier (S.)

G. H.

[1] We have a double MS. Martyrology of Trier, one of the monastery of S. Maximinus, the other of the church of S. Paulinus; in each on this day is recalled the memory of S. Britonius, Bishop of Trier. Which same things are read in the MS. Florarium of Saints, Sacred cult. and in the Martyrology printed in the year MCCCCXC at Cologne and Lübeck, likewise in Grevenus and Molanus in their additions to Usuard, in Canisius, Ferrarius, and Saussay in the supplement of the Gallican Martyrology. But these last two assert he flourished under Dagobert King of the Franks; while it is established that in the fourth century he presided over the Church, and indeed from the year CCCLXXXII up to the year CCCLXXXVI as Brower observes book 4 of the Trier Annals: whom consult on the things done by him. These we set forth from the Trier Breviary and its Lectionary printed in the year MDCXLV, and they are of this kind on this day V May.

[2] Britonius, who in the Episcopate of Trier succeeded Bonosius, Epitome from the Trier Breviary. at Rome, among the Bishops residing there for the cause of a Synod, to confirm the Acts of the Nicene Council and to weaken the dogmas of the other heresies, obtained the third place after Damasus and Ambrose. Thence, winter being passed and the sea being open, returning to his Church; when Ithacius the Spanish Antistes, burning with zeal for persecuting the heresy of the Priscillianists and avenging the authors of the dogma, had come to Trier, and was being sought to be drawn back by force to Spain; Britonius by no means allowed the Bishop, although perhaps kindled by the torches of inconsiderate zeal, by a worthy deed to be torn from his hospitable seat through apparitors and forensic ministry, and to be cast to the calumnies of heretics. In his time also B. Ambrose visited the Trevirans, resisting the Priscillianists in the presence of the Emperor Maximus. At length deprived of life, on the third Nones of May, about the three hundred and sixth year of Christ, he is held in the venerable honor of a Confessor. Thus there.

[3] Of S. Bonosius his predecessor we have treated XVII February: but of his successor Felix XXVI March: his predecessor and successor. who there is said to have been ordained in the year CCCLXXXVI in the Council of Trier, S. Martin being present; where in the Notes on the first chapter of the Life, on the heresy of the Priscillianists and Ithacius we have treated. In Schechmann, in the Epitome or Marrow of the Trier deeds, printed in the year MDXVII, among the Trier Saints is numbered Brito, by others Britonus the Bishop, on the III Nones of May. More we have not found hitherto.