Brice of Tours

Brice redirects here, for other uses see Bricius (disambiguation)

Saint Bricius of Tours, also Brice, Britius, Criccius, Bricio, (born around 370; died 444 in Tours) was the fourth Bishop of Tours, succeeding Martin of Tours in 397.

According to legend, Bricius was an orphan rescued by Martin and raised in a monastery. He later became Martin's pupil, although the ambitious and volatile Bricius was rather the opposite of his master.

As Bishop of Tours, Bricius performed his duties, but was also said to fall for worldly pleasures. After a nun in his household gave birth to a child that was rumored to be his, he performed a ritual by carrying hot coal in his coat to the grave of Martin, showing his unburned coat as proof of his innocence. The people of Tours, however, did not believe him and forced him to leave Tours; he only could return after he travelled to Rome and was released of his all his sins by the Pope. His memorial day is November 13.