Saint Aaron of Aleth | |
|---|---|
 Saint Aaron (detail) from Procession des saints de Bretagne by Alphonse Le Hénaff | |
| Hermit and Abbot | |
| Born | Unknown The British Isles, exact location unknown, perhaps Wales[1] |
| Died | After 552[2] Saint-Malo, Brittany, France |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | 22 June (Elsewhere)[3] 21 June (Saint Malo) |
Aaron of Aleth (died after 552), also called Saint Aihran or Eran in Breton, was a hermit, monk and abbot at a monastery on Cézembre, a small island near Aleth, opposite Saint-Malo in Brittany, France.[2][4] Some sources suggest he may have migrated from Celtic Britain to take up residence in Armorican Domnonia.
He lived alone near Lamballe and Pleumeur-Gautier, before finally settling on an island separated from the settlement of Aleth. He attracted many visitors while there, including Malo,[5] it is said, in 544, and became their abbot. He died soon afterwards. Malo then succeeded to the spiritual rule of the district subsequently known as Saint-Malo, and was consecrated first Bishop of Aleth. Aaron's feast day is 21 June (at Saint-Malo) or 22 June (elsewhere). He is mentioned in Les Vies des Saints de Bretagne.[6]
The town of Saint-Aaron in Lamballe, France is named after him.
