Porcharius

Saint Porcharius (Latin Porcarius), a venerable father, was abbot of the church of Saint-⁠Hilaire-⁠le-⁠Grand in Poitiers and died around 600. He was a contemporary of Saint Radegund and Gregory of Tours. He is venerated as a saint in the Western Church and remembered on 5 June.

Almost nothing is known of his origin or life, except that he was abbot of the basilica of Saint-⁠Hilaire from at least 589. The main source is Gregory of Tours' History of the Franks, which mentions him in the revolt of the nuns of the Holy Cross monastery in Poitiers. In 589, led by Basina and Chrodield, the nuns rose against their abbess Leubovera, took refuge with Bishop Gregory of Tours, then with Porcharius in the basilica of Saint-⁠Hilaire. Porcharius tried to mediate, without success; men hired by the nuns drove out the bishops, and later stormed the monastery and kidnapped the abbess. King Childebert II ordered Count Maccon to put down the revolt, and the nuns were tried and returned to their convent.

At his death he had a reputation for kindness and holiness, and his body was placed in the church of Saint-⁠Sauveur, near where he had retired.