Honoring Saint Melangell
Saint Melangell art by Brett Manning
May 27th is Saint Melangell’s Feast Day and we are hopping for joy over here in our bunny burrow! I first discovered this incredible woman in Mark Hawthorn’s book, The Way of the Rabbit, and I instantly felt a strong connection to her magical essence and was compelled to learn everything possible about this beautiful being.
She was born an Irish Princess approximately in the 7th or 8th century. Her father, King Iowchel, wished for her to marry a nobleman in his court. She said, “No thank you!” and fled the country to avoid marrying against her will. Bravo, bravo… how inspiring! She stood up for herself and created the life she wanted and that was a life of celibacy, prayer, and service to animals.
Saint Melangell found refuge in North Wales and lived in a cave in the remote land of Montgomeryshire with rabbits, hares, and small animals. It is said that she didn’t see another human for 15 years. For this, she is sometimes referred to as the “Hermitess of Wales”.
According to legend, one day, the Prince of Powys, Brochwell Yseythrong, also referred to as the Earl of Chester, found himself near her self made sanctuary as he was hunting hares. A mighty hare out ran the Prince’s hunting dogs, and ran straight to Saint Melangell, and hid under her robe while she was in prayer. The Prince arrived and demanded that she turn over the hare. She refused! One of the Prince’s men then decided to blow a hunting horn signifying that the hare was deemed property of Prince Powys. However, that didn’t actually happen as his lips became stuck on the horn and he was unable to make a sound!
My Bunny Boss Klaus supervised my research on Saint Melangell
Everything changed for Prince Powys at this moment. Enamored by her unwavering tenacity and fierce compassion for the hare, the Prince not only called the hunt off but he deemed that no animals shall ever be hunted in that land. There are a few versions of the legend that I discovered here as it is also said that he was struck by her beauty and proposed marriage to her. Not again! Can’t a person just hang out with animals in a cave and pray in peace? Hares, not husbands! Staying true to herself she said, “No thank you!” once more.
Prince Powys then decided to give the land to Saint Melangell along with the title of Abbess, so she could build a community of nuns that were also called to a life of prayer and service to others, including animals. Word spread far and wide as women traveled there from all around the world to serve alongside Saint Melangell and the small animals of the land. She lived another 37 years and is responsible for creating a community that is still thriving today that is dedicated to helping humans in need of all religious and spiritual backgrounds. The animals continued to be protected as the successors of the Prince vowed to adhere to the original agreement. It was said that she was never seen without animals following close by at all times which says a lot about her spirit as hares in particular are also typically known for their hermit ways.
If you are able to, I highly recommend adding a trip to the Saint Melangell Church to your list of life goals! It’s on mine! The Shrine is considered to be one of the most remote churches in all of Britain tucked away in the Berwyn Mountains able to hold an intimate number of visitors. There is also the Shepherd’s Hut which is a getaway cottage nestled in the valley where folks are welcome to seek solace and serenity. The third structure on the land is the Saint Melangell Centre which was initially established in 1998 as a Cancer Help Center and has since grown to offer retreat services for educational workshops, training events, and quiet days! (Saint Melangell style!)
As someone who identifies as a child of the land/being of the stars, I sincerely appreciate that this community welcomes anyone and everyone from all backgrounds of worship and belief. From my research, it looks like they have continued on in the spirit of Saint Melangell by cultivating a peaceful environment that nurtures a connection to the earth, animals, and spirit, whatever that might look like or mean to you.
“We are all divine beings made of the same stars sharing this experience together on earth.”
A super fancy screen grab here from my presentation! Full disclosure, I may have said, “AMAZING” about 20 times but I stand by it because Saint Melangell is pretty darn amazing!
I had the pleasure of hosting a virtual bunny bash that highlighted her origin story, present day legacy, and how she became a saint in greater detail along with a few suggested rituals to consider as a way to honor her on her official feast day! (or any day!) If you are moved by her story as I have been, there are quite a few ways to celebrate her spirit and keep her memory alive.
(I would like to say that as I was researching her history, I did come across a few versions of various aspects of her legend and shared everything I learned along with additional resources to explore.)
Whatever may or may not speak to you, I invite you to embrace the legacy of Saint Melangell by soaring in power and grace as you live your truth while protecting the animals of the world.
Happy Saint Melangell Feast Day!