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Saints

Fragan and Gwen

A British couple settled in Brittany, parents of Saint Winwaloe, of around 500.

Feast
July 5old style July 18
Reposed
5005th century

Life

Saints Fragan and Gwen were a British married couple who, according to tradition, left Britain after the departure of the Romans and settled in Brittany in the fifth century. They were the parents of Saints Winwaloe (Guénolé), Jacut and Guéthenoc. Gwen is also called Blanche, and her byname Teirbron means "three-⁠breasted", linked by tradition to her three sons.

According to a tradition kept in France, Fragan was of noble stock, a prince from Albany (present Scotland), and settled at Ploufragan in Côtes-⁠d'Armor toward the end of the fourth century or perhaps around 418. He is said to have founded the castle of Lesguen and to have gathered a small army in haste to repel pagan pirates at Lochrist.

Churches in Brittany bear their names. The Breton calendar commemorates Fragan on 3 October, and the Church commemorates both on 5 July as saints of the undivided Church, by the New Calendar.

Commemorated the same day July 5