St. Aaron of Aleth

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. 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, 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.

The town of Saint-Aaron in Lamballe, France is named after him.

The surviving historical record

The surviving biographical account of this saint is brief. It does not establish a complete chronology of childhood, family life, and daily activities. This page includes the available account rather than supplying imagined conversations or undocumented events. Where the account reports a tradition, it should be read as a tradition, not as a modern eyewitness record.