Berthevin of Parigny

Berthevin of Parigny (also called Brévin) was a deacon and martyr, born at Parigny in Manche, near Saint-⁠Hilaire-⁠du-⁠Harcouët, in Normandy. He is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and remembered on 11 February.

His life is said to have been written in the 12th or 13th century by a monk of the abbey of Mont-⁠Saint-⁠Michel. He was born in the 9th century, into a noble family. Around the year 900 he lived as a hermit in a cave on the bank of the river Vicoin, near Saint-⁠Berthevin-⁠les-⁠Laval. The lord Bellailé of Laval noticed his virtues and had him educate his children. Berthevin did his duty with zeal, but the company of men of arms did not suit him, so whenever he had leisure he withdrew to his cave to pray and to teach the children of the neighborhood. Bellailé soon valued him and made him counselor and steward of his household.

The presence of the young deacon, and the purity of his conduct, which contrasted with the disorder at the lord's court, roused jealousy, however. He was accused of having attempted the honor of Bellailé's wife. Surprised at prayer in his little oratory, he was killed with daggers, and his body was thrown into the Vicoin. Another tradition counts him a martyr of the Vikings. His body, after a miraculous return, is said to have been drawn by a heifer and brought to the church of Parigny.

He is a local saint of the West; no Orthodox synodal canonization is known, and the story is late.