Ruelin

Saint Ruelin (or Saint Rivelin) succeeded Saint Tudwal as Bishop of Tréguier. He died ca. 650. His fest is February 28.^[1]

Ruelin was a student of the Breton monk Tudwal who had established a hermitage on an island off the coast of North Wales.

Around 540, he emigrated with Tudwal to Armorica. Ruelin founded a hermitage, later a monastery, at present-day Châteauneuf-du-Faou. When Tudwal was dying, the priests asked him to select a successor, and he named Ruelin. His election was contested by Saint Pergat, canon and archpriest of Lexobie. who won a part of the clergy and the people to his cause. To remedy this schism, a synod was assembled at Lexobie, where the most skillful and learned ecclesiastics of the diocese were convoked to resolve the dispute.^[2] It took an appearance from Tudwal for Pergat to retire, ending his days in penance at Pouldouran.^[3]

Saint Maudez stayed at the monastery of Tréguier, and obtained permission from Abbot Ruelin to retire to a solitary place known today as Lanmodez.^[4]

According to Adolphe Guillou's Historical Essay on Tréguier, there used to be, in the center of rue Saint-Yves, an old chapel dedicated to Saint-Ruelin. In 2017, a statue of Saint-Ruelin, carved in walnut by sculptor Yann Toularastel, was installed in a niche at the bottom of rue Saint-Yves.^[5]

The village of Saint-Rivalain lies southeast of Melrand, at the confluence of the Sarre and the Blavet.^[6] There is a Saint Rivalain street in the commune of Melrand.^[7]