Saint Brieuc of Brittany

Also known as

• Briach
• Brieg
• Brigomalos
• Brimael
• Brioc
• Brioch
• Briock
• Briocus
• Briomaglus
• Bru
• Bryan

Memorial

• 1 May
• formerly on the second Sunday after Easter

Profile

Born and raised a pagan in a family of the Welsh nobility, but converted to Christianity as a young adult. Educated in France by Saint Germanus of Auxerre. Priest; a column of fire was reported seen near him at his ordination. He then returned to the British Isles as an evangelist, preaching in the Cardigan area. Founded two abbeys in Brittany. Bishop in upper Brittany. Venerated in Cornwall. Many churches in England and Scotland are dedicated to him.

Born

• c.420 at Dyfed, Cardiganshire, Wales

Died

• c.510 at Saint-Brieuc-des-Vaux, France of natural causes
• relics in the abbey of Saint Sergius, Angers, and in the Cathedral of Saint Brieuc

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Patronage

• purse makers (from the legendary size of his alms-giving)
• Saint-Brieuc-des-Vaux, France

Representation

• alms-box
• purse
• cleric treading on a dragon
• priest with a column of fire

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Kirken i Norge
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• Medieval Religion Listserv, by Terry Morgan
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Saint Brieuc of Brittany“. Saints.SQPN.com. 4 May 2013. Web. 18 June 2013. <>