Foillan

Foillan (Faelan, Feuillan) (d. c.655), Irish monk. Foillan was the brother of Fursey, who came with him to East Anglia where they established the monastery of Cnobheresburg (Burgh Castle). After East Anglia was ravaged by Penda, king of Mercia, Foillan followed his brother to Neustria, where he was well received by Clovis II. Foillan founded a monastery at Fosses on land given to him by Ita, abbess of Nivelles. He was also a notable missionary in Brabant. He was killed by outlaws at Serette while on a visitation to various Irish monasteries including Lagny and Péronne; he was buried at Fosses. Feast: 31 October.

Bibliography
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• AA.SS. Oct. XIII (1883), 370–445; B. Krusch, ‘Vita S. Foillani’ in M.G.H. Scriptores rerum merov., iv. 449–51; P. Grosjean, ‘Notes d'hagiographie celtique’, Anal. Boll., lxxxv (1957), 379–419