Sainte Clervie
called Klervi, Klervie, Klerwie, Kreivia, Clervie, Crevia, Cheirbia in Breton, in Welsh called Creirwy. Kierwi is an attested form. According to legend, one day, one of the sisters of Guénolé was chasing geese by the castle courtyard of Lesguen when a goose took her eye and swallowed it. This saddened her parents. While in prayer, Saint Guénolé was warned by an angel of what had happened to his sister. He went there, grabbed the goose, and cleaved the stomach. The eye was put back into place, and Saint Clervie regained her vision. Historically, Saint Clervie is the daughter of Saint Fragan and Saint Gwenn, both of whom are Breton saints. Her brothers include Saint Jacut (Jagu), Saint Guéthénoc (Gwezheneg), and Saint Guénolé (Gwennolé). In Gaelic, her name means "jewel", but "pearl" is also attributed to the word "haer", signifying strong. Clervie is the French form of the name.
Sainte Sève
called Sev, Sewa, Loeve, Loaven, in Breton, Sewo in Welsh, but also Santsegne in the 11th century, Senseguot in 1128, and St Scevat in 1598, is a semi-legendary saint of the 6th century. Her feast day is celebrated on July 23 but is not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Very little is known about her. She was a daughter of Hoël I, King of Domnoncée in Britain, and St Koupaia, sister of St Tugdual, bishop and one of the seven founders of christianized Brittany. She was sister to St Lunaire (Leonor) and Hoël II. Albert the Great of Morlaix recounts that St Tugdual traveled Armorica with his disciples, received donations during his sermons and more land where he established monastaries. In the current village of Sainte-Sève, near Morlaix, he founded an abbey for his sister c. 530, now defunct. Saint Sève is the patron saint of Sainte-Sève and Langoat. She gave her name to Loaven where she is buried in the chapel
Sainte Tréphine
also called Trifine, Tryphine, or Triphine, is a semi-lengendary saint also of the 6th century. In the old legends, the wicked Conomor had murdered three women before Tréphine. She refused to marry him because of his reputation, but when he threaten to invade her father's lands, she agreed to marry him to spare the lives of her people. While Conomor was away, Tréphine discovered the secret room where her husband hid the remains of his dead wives. She prayed for their souls, and their ghosts appeared to her to warn her that if she ever got pregnant, Conomor would kill her. The reason for why he would want to kill Tréphine for being pregnant is speculated. One theory is that he only wanted sexual pleasure. Another states that a prophecy was foretold and that his son would kill him. Upon his return, Conomor learns that his wife is pregnant, but she manages to escape with the help of his dead wives. She gives birth to her son in the forest. She managed to hide her son before her husband caught her and decapitated her. However, Saint Gildas found out and miracously brought the newborn back to life. Tréphine and her son lived in seclusion after that. In other versions, after Tréphine's death, Conomor finds his son and kills him. Others say that Conomor was killed in his castle. There is a possibility that the tale of Bluebeard could come from this legend. Later, the Breton folklorist François-Marie Luzel discovered a play about King Arthur and Sainte Tréphine. In this version, Arthur became the husband of Tréphine, not Conomor. There have been links to similar characistics between Tréphine and Guinevere. The plot includes Tréphine's evil brother Kervoura inheriting the kingdom of Arthur. The plot is vaguely similar to the first legend where Tréphine becomes pregnant, he kidnaps her and hides the child, and then tries to incriminate Tréphine of murdering the baby. She managed to escape the prison and worked six years as a servant. In the end, Tréphine and Arthur are reunited. The feast day of Sainte Tréphine is 7 November, and her son Trémeur is 21 July. One parish, now a commune in Côtes-d'Armor, bears her name: Sainte-Tréphine, which has a chapel Saint-Trémeur.
More Breton female saints: Sainte Évette, Sainte Gwen, Sainte Gwendolen, Sainte Gwengustle, Sainte Mélarie, Sainte Morwenna, Sainte Ninoc, Sainte Nonne, Sainte Onenne, Sainte Pompée
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