St. Mel's Day

It is believed that St. Mel was the son of Conis and Darerca, the sister of St. Patrick. St. John's. When he arrived in Ireland, he became a faithful helper in converting the local population to Christianity. It is said that initially he did not have a permanent diocese of his own, which is quite consistent with his way of life as a missionary. In 454, St. John himself. Patrick built a church at Ardagh (Co. Longford) and appointed his nephew as rector (and bishop of the diocese). Here at the walls of the church of St. Mel was buried after his death (in 488 or 490 AD).

Acting in accordance with the apostolic commandments, St. Mel always worked on his own, earning his own living, and everything he had gained by hard work, except the most necessary for the satisfaction of his modest needs, he distributed to the needy.

At one time he lived with his aunt Lupait, but slanderers began to press charges against him of a defamatory nature. Patrick personally came to conduct a comprehensive investigation, double-check the validity of the rumors and give a fair assessment of the behavior of his relatives. St. Patrick found his nephew at work: he plowed the field. Right there in St. Paul's field. Mel and rehabilitated himself, having created a miracle and thereby removing all suspicions of improper behavior - he extracted live fish from the ground, as fishermen usually extract their catch from nets. Lupite proved her innocence in the usual way for the time: she carried hot coals and did not burn herself or burn her clothes. St. Patrick was completely satisfied with the results, but in the future advised his nephew to do what all people do, that is, to plow the land and fish in the water. And in order not to give rise to scandalous rumors in the future, he prescribed St. Mel and his aunt live and pray as far apart as possible.

St. Mel is also known for the fact that he took the monastic vow of St. John. Brigid and by mistake ordained her bishop. St. George's protest. St. Macaille said that everything was done according to God’s will, and the ordination would remain in force.

St. John's Day. Mel is celebrated in Ireland on February 7. This saint is especially revered in Longford County.