Saint Joavan (or Jaoua, Joévin, Jouva, Jaouen, Yaouen; died c. 555) was an Irish priest and bishop in Brittany.
Said to have been a native of Ireland, educated in Britain, and a companion of St. Paul de Leon in Armorica, where he became that Saint's successor as Bishop.
bistories and legends preserved at Leon in his time] THIS saint was an Irishman by birth, and nephew of S. Paul of Léon.
He studied with his uncle in Britain, and then returned to Ireland, but hearing that S. Paul had gone into Brittany, he departed for that country, and after having passed his noviciate in the monastery of Lianaterenecan, under S. Judulus, he departed to Léon, and received priest's orders from his uncle, who appointed him to the isle of Baz.
[3] John O'Hanlon (1821–1905) wrote on what had been recorded on Joava's life in his Lives of the Irish Saints (1875).
When Ioava heard of this he left Ireland secretly (his parents wanted him to marry) and landed near Llandevenec, where Saint Winwaloe had founded a monastery.
[6] He met his uncle Paul and went with him to Le Fou, where through preaching and miracles the population was converted to Christianity.