Saint Mellonius (229-314) was an early 4th-century Bishop of Rotomagus (now

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine in northern France. It is the prefecture of the Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one of ...

) in the

Roman province The Roman provinces (Latin: ''provincia'', pl. ''provinciae'') were the administrative regions of Ancient Rome outside Roman Italy that were controlled by the Romans under the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire. Each province was rule ...

of Secunda Provincia Lugdunensis (now

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

). He is known only from a 17th-century 'Life' of little historical value, meaning the historicity of his existence is uncertain.

Legend

Mellonius (surnamed Probus) is said to have been born near

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

, presumably at

St Mellons St Mellons ( cy, Llaneirwg) is a district and suburb of southeastern Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. Prior to 1996 St Mellons was the name given to the community largely north of Newport Road (B4487) which included the old St Mellons village. ...

, although the saint there is generally thought to be Saint

Melaine Saint Melaine (Latin: Melanius or Mellanus; Cornish: Melan; Welsh: Mellon) was a 6th-century Bishop of Rennes in Brittany (now in France). Traditional history Melaine grew up at Plaz in Brain, near Redon. He was a pious child, often being pu ...

Bishop of Rennes The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rennes, Dol, and Saint-Malo (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Rhedonensis, Dolensis et Sancti Maclovii''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Rennes, Dol et Saint-Malo''; br, Arc'heskopti Roazhon, Dol ha Sant-Maloù) is a dioces ...

. The two have, unfortunately, been hopelessly confused in many biographies. Mellonius' story tells how he travelled to

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

to pay the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

tribute. He was there converted to

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

Pope Stephen I Pope Stephen I ( la, Stephanus I) was the bishop of Rome from 12 May 254 to his death on 2 August 257.Mann, Horace (1912). "Pope St. Stephen I" in ''The Catholic Encyclopedia''. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company. He was later canonized ...

, who ordained him priest and later consecrated him a bishop. Shortly after the martyrdom of Pope Stephen in 257, Mellonius set out for Gaul. He succeeded

Nicasius of Rouen Saint Nicasius of Rouen (french: Nicaise de Rouen; d. perhaps 260), often known as the Apostle of the Vexin, was a 3rd-century saint and martyr in Gaul. He is sometimes considered the first Bishop of Rouen, although probably incorrectly. Life ...

as Bishop of Rouen in 261. After a long episcopate, in 311, he retired to a hermit's cell at a place called Hericourt, where he died A.D. 314. Mellonius was succeeded by

Avitianus Avitus of Rouen (died 325), also known as Avitien or Avidien was the third Bishop of Rouen. He is venerated as a Saint in the Catholic Church. Biography He was the third bishop of Rouen in Normandy, however his two predecessors are accepted a ...

. He is sometimes confused with Mellonius,

Bishop of Troyes The Diocese of Troyes (Latin: ''Dioecesis Trecensis''; French: ''Diocèse de Troyes'') is a Latin Church , native_name_lang = la , image = San Giovanni in Laterano - Rome.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , alt ...

, from 390 to 400.

Veneration

His feast day is 22 October. In the English translation of the 1956 edition of the

Roman Martyrology The ''Roman Martyrology'' ( la, Martyrologium Romanum) is the official martyrology of the Catholic Church. Its use is obligatory in matters regarding the Roman Rite liturgy, but dioceses, countries and religious institutes may add duly approved ...

, 'St Mellon' is listed under 22 October with the citation: At Rouen, St Mellon, Bishop, who was ordained by Pope St Stephen and sent thither to preach the Gospel. In the 2004 edition of the Roman Martyrology, Mellonius is listed under the same date, 22 October, with the Latin name ''Mallóni''. He is mentioned as follows: 'At Rothómagi (Rouen), bishop, who in that city announced the Christian faith and handed on the episcopate'. Bishop Mellonius is depicted in a fifteenth-century illuminated Book of Hours.Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts, The Morgan Library and Museum
/ref> Mellonius was buried at Rouen, but his remains were subsequently translated to a church in

Pontoise Pontoise () is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the " new town" of Cergy-Pontoise. Administration Pontoise is the official ''préfecture'' (capital) of the Val-d'Oise ''dépa ...

towards the end of the eighth century to protect them from Norse warbands. They remained there until they were lost during the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...

Legacy

St. Mellon's Church in St. Mellons, Cardiff is dedicated to Mellonius of Rouen. A fair used to be held on his feast day in the village of St Mellons.Kellen, David. "St Mellons Parish Church", The Parish of St. Mellons, The church in Wales
/ref> The church was previously dedicated to St. Lucius, but was changed upon the arrival of the Normans.Cormack, George. "St. Mellon", ''The Red Dragon: The National Magazine of Wales'', Vol. 11, (Giuseppe Mattei,ed.), Daniel Owen, Howell and Company, 1887, p. 72
/ref> The church at Thiédeville is dedicated to him at Héricourt, where there was a

holy well A holy well or sacred spring is a well, spring or small pool of water revered either in a Christian or pagan context, sometimes both. The water of holy wells is often thought to have healing qualities, through the numinous presence of its gua ...

. There is also a church dedicated to St. Mellon in Plomelin, Brittany.

References

External links

Who Was Saint Mellon?
- article at the parish website of St Mellon's Church in St Mellons, Cardiff
Geographical Essay
appended to estate agent's particulars
Rumney History
summary {{authority control 311 deaths 4th-century bishops in Gaul Bishops of Rouen Welsh Roman Catholic saints Medieval Welsh saints 4th-century Christian saints Gallo-Roman saints Year of birth unknown