Born in Cardiganshire, Wales; died in Brittany, c. 510; feast of his
translation is October 18. Brioc was the founder of a monastery near
Treguier, Brittany, which grew into the town and see called
Saint-Brieuc. He was probably born in Ceredigion (Cardiganshire).
According to legend, his father was named Cerpus and his mother was
Eldrude, both of whom he is said to have converted following his
ordination.
Brioc appears to have worked in southwestern Britain before migrating to
Brittany; there is a place called Saint Breock or Breoke in Cornwall and
Saint Briavels in the Forest of Dean is at root the same name. Saint
Brioc's medieval biography contains a number of particulars and
marvellous tales, but its historicity is slight. It says, for instance,
that Brioc was trained
in Gaul by Saint Germanus of Auxerre, who died in 448, which makes it
highly unlikely.
Brioc is reputed to have built a famous church called Grande-Lann, where
he gathered a number of disciples. In Treguier, he converted a wealthy
nobleman named Conan who provided the funds to build a monastery in
northern Armorica. Then Brioc is said to have returned to Britain and
with the help of his relative, Prince Rigald of Domnonia, built the
church of Saint Stephen there.
Brioc is styled a bishop in an inscription in marble at his shrine built
in 1210, but it is not certain that he was a bishop; more likely he was
an abbot of the Celtic type who kept a bishop in his monastery because
no evidence claims his successor in the see, which dates only to 844.
Brioc's relics were translated to the abbey of Saint-Sergius in Angers
in the mid-9th century to protect them from Norse invaders. In 1210, an
arm, two ribs, and some cervical bones were given back to Saint Brieuc's
(
Attwater,
Benedictines,
Farmer,
Gill,
Husenbeth).
In art, Saint Brioc is a bishop with a fiery pillar above him. He is
venerated in Treguier, Brittany, and Cornwall
(
Roeder).
Because of the
legends regarding his great charity, Brioc is considered the patron of
purse-makers
(
Farmer).
Troparion of St Brioc
Tone 1
O holy Brioc, Enlightener of the lands of Wales and Brittany:
with miracles thou didst preach Christ in thy life,
and in death thy
fragrance proclaimed thy glory. Pray to Christ our God that our souls
may be saved.