Died c. 530. With Saint Remi, Melanius shares the title of Apostle of
France. Melanius, a Breton by birth, was bishop of Rennes during the
critical time when the Franks were overrunning Gaul. He is said to have
almost completely succeeded in abolishing idolatry from his diocese and
was highly revered by King Clovis
(
Benedictines,
Encyclopaedia).
In art,
Saint Melanius is depicted with a ship carrying his corpse sailing
upstream. Sometimes the bishop stands on a devil or he is shown driving
out the devil
(
Roeder).