Saint Bretannion
Saint Bretannion (also Bretanion; died c. 380 AD in Tomis, Scythia Minor, present-day Constanța, Romania) was Bishop of Tomis on the Black Sea coast of Scythia Minor who is celebrated for his courageous resistance to the Arian Emperor Valens. According to the account in Sozomen's Church History, when Valens ordered Bretannion to join the Arians in communion, Bretannion refused publicly, walked out of the church, and when subsequently exiled by the emperor was restored after popular protest from the people of Tomis. His feast day is January 25.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Bretannion
| Saint Bretannion | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 25 |
| Profession | Bishop; confessor of the faith |
| Rel. Affiliation | Early Church; Diocese of Tomis |
| Patronage | Tomis; Scythia Minor; Constanța |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; chains or prison (exile) |
| Birthplace | Scythia Minor (present-day Romania) |
| Death Place | Tomis (Constanța), Romania |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Constanța, Romania |
| Liturgical Class | Not included (universal calendar) |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Bretannion served as Bishop of Tomis (present-day Constanța, Romania) on the western shore of the Black Sea during the reign of the Arian Emperor Valens (364–378 AD). The Arian controversy—the great theological conflict of the fourth century over the nature of Christ's relationship to the Father—had produced an emperor in Valens who aggressively promoted Arian theology and persecuted Nicene (orthodox) Christians.
When Valens visited Tomis and demanded that Bretannion enter Arian communion, Bretannion is reported by Sozomen (Church History, Book VI) to have welcomed the emperor in the church but then, when Valens moved to join him in the same part of the building, to have walked out of the church—refusing to share sacred space with a man who held heterodox communion. Valens exiled him; but the people of Tomis were so attached to their bishop that their protest caused Valens to recall Bretannion from exile. He returned to his see and died around 380 AD.
Significant events
- Bishop of Tomis during the reign of Emperor Valens.
- Publicly refused to share church space with the Arian emperor; walked out of the church.
- Exiled by Valens; recalled after popular protest.
- Died c. 380 AD; feast day January 25.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Scythia Minor (present-day Romania)
Death location: Tomis (Constanța), Romania
Notable location: His episcopal see on the Black Sea coast (Tomis (Constanța), Constanța County, Romania)
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Feast day
January 25
Veneration
Saint Bretannion is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on January 25. He is also venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church as a confessor of Nicene faith.
Prayers
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