Life of St. Martin

<p>Saint Martin of Tours was the third bishop of Tours. He has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints in Western tradition. A native of Pannonia he converted to Christianity at a young age. He served in the Roman cavalry in Gaul but left military service at some point prior to 361 when he embraced Trinitarianism and became a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers establishing the monastery at Ligugé. He was consecrated as Bishop of Caesarodunum (Tours) in 371. As bishop he was active in the suppression of the remnants of Gallo-Roman religion but he opposed the violent persecution of the Priscillianist sect of ascetics.</p>