Martin of Braga

Saint Martin of Braga (in Portuguese Martinho de Dume), born around 518 in Pannonia and died in 580, was a monk, founder of monasteries, archbishop of Braga and ecclesiastical writer, called the apostle of the Suevi. His contemporary Gregory of Tours says of him that he was full of virtue and second to none in learning.

He went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where he became a monk. Around 550 he sailed to Hispania and settled in Gallaecia (Galicia). He brought the Suevi, who held the Arian heresy, to the right faith of Chalcedon. He founded several monasteries, among them that at Dumium (Dume), near the Suevic capital, Braga, and was bishop of that monastery. He took part in the first council of Braga (561), and was later raised to metropolitan of Braga, presiding over the second council there in 572. He reorganized the Church in the kingdom of the Suevi.

He left many writings: he translated from Greek into Latin a collection of the Sayings of the Egyptian Fathers, and at his urging the monk Paschasius translated a larger collection. Other works of his survive. He is said to have been bishop first of Mondoñedo and then of Braga. He is a saint of the undivided Church, commemorated on 20 March (new style; 2 April in the old style).