Goulven of Leon
| Saint Goulven of Leon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bishop of Leon | |
| Born |
sixth century Brittany |
| Died |
c. 616 Saint-Didier, Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | 1 July |
Goulven or Golven was the Bishop of Saint-Pol-de-Léon in the seventh century.
Biography
According to his vita, Saint Goulven was the son of immigrants from the British Isles who landed in 540 at Plouider. His father, Glaudan, and his mother, Gologuenn, had hardly landed in Plounéour-Trez Cove (also called Goulven Cove) in Brengorut when Goulven came into the world.
Godian (or Gosian), a wealthy owner of the country without heirs, became the godfather and foster father of the child. He took care of his education; Goulven from his childhood was attracted by abstinence, being content with bread and water and showing tenderness and devotion. Having finished his studies, Goulven began to evangelize the people.
Goulven eventually retreated into the woods. Facing the sea, he built his hermitage and planted three crosses to mark his daily journey (at the future parish of Goulven). He led a religious life punctuated by prayer, penance and work in the company of a disciple named Maden.
In 602, he was unanimously elected Bishop of Leon, even though he had gone on a trip to Rome to avoid being elected and had to leave his hermitage on his return. He stayed in Rennes for reasons related to the administration of his diocese, he was elected bishop of Rennes, but a few years before his death, he retired to Saint-Didier, four leagues from Rennes. He built a little oratory there and ended his life in austere penance, leading the life of an anchorite. He died in 616, probably at Saint-Didier. He was buried in Rennes' Saint-Melaine Abbey and his relics became the property of Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Rennes.
Bibliography
- R.P Dom François Plaine, Vie inédite de Saint Goulven Évêque de Saint-Pol-de-Léon (550?-614?) Bulletin de la Société archéologique du Finistère Tome XVIII pages 24 à 33.
- Arthur de La Borderie, Texte de la vie latine ancienne et inédite de Saint Goulven avec notes et commentaire historique Société d'Émulation des Côtes du Nord Mémoires de l'année 1891 pages 214 à 250.
- Le Breton H., Un vieux saint breton : saint Goulven ou Golven, évêque de Léon, Rennes, 1933.
- Bourges A.-Y., Guillaume Le Breton et l'hagiographie bretonne aux 12th - 13th siècles, Annales de Bretagne et des Pays de l’Ouest, t. 102, No. 1, (1995), p. 35 45.