Born in Gwent, South Wales; died at Gael, Brittany, c. 617.
Traditionally the Cornish Saint Meen is said to have been born to a rich
and noble family. He mother was related to
Saints Magloire (f.d. October 24)
and
Samson (f.d. July 28).
Accompanied by his reputed
godson
Saint Austell (f.d. June 28),
he followed Saint Samson from Wales
to Brittany. Samson used him to preach to the people on their way. As
they passed through Cornwall they founded adjoining parishes called
Saint Mewan and Saint Austell.
In Brittany Meen evangelized the Broceliande district which figures in
the Arthurian romances. He acquitted himself so well as a preacher that
he was given land and goods by Count Caduon and Count Guerech I of
Vannes to found a monastery. With their assistance he founded one
monastery near Rennes, Saint John the Baptist of Gael, now called
Saint-Meen's. With Meen as abbot, the monastery gained renown for its
sanctity and regularity. When
King Saint Judicaeel (f.d. December 17)
renounced his throne c. 616, he received the monastic habit from Saint
Meen.
Then he founded another monastery near Angers, which was later called
Saint-Meen or Saint-Meon, which he populated with monks from Gael.
The cultus of Saint Meen spread throughout France and there were
numerous pilgrimages to his shrine at the monastery. At Gael there was
a fountain whose water was renowned for healing skin diseases. The
abbey was converted into a Lazarist seminary in 1640.
His extant _vita_, in which he is called Conard-Meen, was written there
500 years after his death. In England he is the patron of Saint Mewan
and perhaps Mevagissey in Cornwall. Some of his relics are claimed by
Glastonbury; others were translated to Saint-Florent's abbey near
Saumur. His name is found in a 7th-century English litany and in
pre-Conquest missals. His feast is kept in Cornwall and Exeter
(
Attwater,
Attwater2,
Benedictines,
Coulson,
Encyclopedia,
Farmer,
Husenbeth).
Troparion of St Mewan tone 7
Holy disciple of Saint Samson of Dol,/ thou didst persevere in thy
resolve and enter a monastery in Brittany./ Thou didst press on in thy
holy struggle/ and establish thine own monastery./ O holy Mewan, pray
for us to Christ our God/ that our souls may be saved.