Potentin

Potentin (Potan) was a monk and founder of a monastery in Armorica in the 7th century, and is venerated as a saint in the Western Church. He was, by all signs, of Irish origin.

Around the year 585 he was among the monks who embarked with Saint Columbanus. They crossed the Irish Sea in a curragh, a light boat of laths covered with hide, followed the coasts of English Cornwall and stopped near Tintagel. In France Columbanus founded the monastery of Luxeuil, but around 610, after a conflict with the French Church and with Queen Brunhild, the monks were expelled and went up the Loire toward Nantes. After stopping near Coutances, Potentin founded a monastery there, now vanished, of which he was the first abbot. A local legend places it at Saint-⁠Pôtan, a village said to bear his name.

He is still alive in 640, when he is mentioned in the Life of Saint Columbanus by Jonas of Bobbio. He is commemorated on 1 November.