Méen

Méen of Brittany (Latin: Mevennus, Breton: Meven) (born ca. 540, died 617) was a Breton saint, thought to be Cornish or Welsh in origin. Most documentation of his life can be found in Vita Meveni, written in 1084 by Ingamar.

Abbey of St. Méen

According to tradition, he followed Samson of Dol to Brittany, accompanied by Austol. After Samson of Dol's passing, he travelled to meet the Breton King Waroch II and had to cross the vast Paimpont forest. There he met a wealthy landowner named Caduon who offered him lodging and food for the night. After spending the evening conversing with Méen, Caduon could not resolve himself to let Méen go. Deeply moved by what he had heard, Caduon offered to donate all his possessions to erect a church and an abbey, on the condition that Méen himself would build and inhabit it.

Originally dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, the abbey was later named Abbey of St-Méen or Saint-Méon. Saint Méen is also honoured at St Austell and St Mewan in Cornwall.

Feast date

Møn

Møn is an island in south-eastern Denmark. Until 1 January 2007, it was a municipality in its own right but it is now part of the municipality of Vordingborg, after merging with the former municipalities of Langebæk, Præstø, and Vordingborg. This has created a municipality with an area of 615 km² (237 sq mi) and a total population of 46,307 (2005). It belongs to the Region Sjælland ("Zealand Region"). Møn is one of Denmark's most popular destinations for tourists with its white chalk cliffs, countryside, sandy beaches and the market town of Stege.

Location

Møn is located just off the south-eastern tip of Zealand from which it is separated by the waters of the Hølen strait between Kalvehave and the island of Nyord, at the northern end of Møn. Further south is Stege Bugt. At the narrowest point between the two islands, the waters are referred to as Wolf Strait (Ulvsund), which is the primary strait separating Møn from Zealand.

To the southwest is Stubbekøbing on the island of Falster, which is separated from Møn by the Grønsund (Green Strait).