Ruelin

Saint Ruelin, hierarch (also Ruellin, Rivelin or Rivalain), was bishop of Tréguier in the 6th century, successor of Saint Tudwal. He is remembered on 28 February. The sources say that he died around 650, so the date of 598 in our record is not supported.

He was a disciple of the Breton monk Tudwal, who had established a hermitage on an island off the north coast of Wales. Around 540 he went with him to Armorica and founded a hermitage, later a monastery, at Moustoir, today part of Châteauneuf-⁠du-⁠Faou. When Tudwal was dying at Tréguier, the priests asked him to choose a successor, and he named Ruelin. The election was contested by Pergat, canon and archpriest of Lexobie, who won part of the clergy and people to his side. To end the division a synod was assembled at Lexobie, and an appearance of Tudwal made Pergat withdraw, ending his days in penance at Pouldouran.

Saint Maudez stayed at the monastery of Tréguier and obtained permission from Abbot Ruelin to retire to a solitary place, today Lanmodez. There used to be an old chapel dedicated to the saint in Tréguier, and in 2017 a statue of him was installed there. The village of Saint-⁠Rivalain near Melrand bears his name.