Saint of the Day – 13 September – Saint Litorius of Tours (Died 371) the 2nd Bishop of Tour, reigning for 34 years from 337 until his death in 371. He built the first Churches and the Basilica of Tours. Born in Tours and died there on 13 September 371 of natural causes. Also known as Lidore
St Gregory of Tours in the Historia Francorum gives some information about Litorius (lat. Litorius, the 2nd Bishop of Tours. Born in this City, he was consecrated Bishop in the first year of the Empire of Constans (337-338), who succeeded, their father Constantine, together with his brothers Constantine II and Constantius II.
The Christian community of Tours must have been small in number, Litorius saw it grow considerably, so much so that he was able to build the first Church in the City. He later built a Basilica on the house of a senator, where Litorius was himself later buried.
He died on 13 September 371 and was succeeded by the famous Saint Martin, the second Gregory, who began to preach during the Episcopate of Litorius. However, it is not known whether the two Saints knew one another but it does seem unlikely that a man of the earth of that City and the Bishop there too, did not know his Clerics..
The Feast of Litorius was celebrated on 13 September, since the 6th Century in his Basilica. Tthe Martyrology of Hieronymia bears witness to this with the words: “In Tours deposition of Litorius, Bishop”
Some false manuscripts have distorted the name of Litorius into Ligorius and a forger has attributed to him a fabulous life, adorning him with the crown of martyrdom.
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