Celtic and Old English Saints 1 November =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. Cadfan of Wales * St. Ceitho of Wales * St. Pabiali of Wales * St. Dingad of Wales * St. Cledwyn of Wales * St. Gwythian of Cornwall =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St. Cadfan of Wales, Abbot (Catamanu, Catman) --------------------------------------------------------------- Died probably at Bardsey in the early 6th century. A missionary from Letavia (probably in Brittany but possibly in south-eastern Wales) to Wales, Cadfan founded monasteries at Towyn in Merionethshire and Llangadfan in Montgomeryshire, and later a monastic centre on the island of Bardsey (Ynys Enlli), where he was first abbot. Bardsey developed into a great centre of monasticism. It is said that as he went from Towyn to Llangadfan he passed through Pistyll Gadfan, Eisteddfa Gadfa, and Llwbyr Gadfan. Bardsey Island is still a wild, isolated place - exactly the kind of spot to which the Celtic monks liked to retreat. The first monastery here was founded by St Cadfan in 429. Today's remains are 13th century and are of the Augustinian abbey of St Mary, built on the site of the original monastery. In time Bardsey became one of the most popular places of pilgrimage in Britain and many went there to be buried so as to be close to the numerous ascetic saints who died there. In time it became known as "The Island of 20,000 Saints." Human bones were so common that they were used to mend fences! Cadfan's holy well could be found in the churchyard at Towyn, near his chapel (since destroyed), where many were cured of rheumatism, scrofula, and skin diseases. It continued to attract pilgrims long after the Reformation. Baths and changing-rooms were added until it went into disuse about 1894. In the church at Towyn, there is a stone pillar, called the Cadfan stone, with an ancient inscription that marks the place of his burial: "Beneath a similar mound lies Cadfan, sad it should enclose the praise of the earth. May he rest without blemish." A Cadfan also has an active cultus in Finistere and Cotes du Nord, Brittany. While it is generally held that this is the same Cadfan (the reason for thinking that he was a Breton), there are still problems in making the connection between the two. The question may never be settled. The Breton Cadfan is the patron of a church at Poullan, near Douarnenez. (Benedictines, Delaney, Farmer). Troparion of St Cadfan tone 8 Leaving thy native Brittany for the love of Christ, O Father Cadfan,/ thou dost teach us not to love places or things more than Him./ Wherefore, O holy one, intercede for us that we may be faithful to our calling and found worthy of great mercy. Information and photographs of Bardsey Island: http://freespace.virgin.net/well.springs/Wellspring_of_Pilgrimage/bardsey.htm m http://web.archive.org/web/20001207171600/http://www.ccw.gov.uk/register/english/level2/bardsey.htm TINY Url http://tinyurl.com/633clg http://www.britannia.com/wales/sacred/sac14.html St. Ceitho of Wales --------------------------------------------------------------- 6th century. One of five brothers, saints of the great Welsh family of Cunedda. A church at Pumpsant was dedicated to the five brothers. That at Llangeith in Cardiganshire, was founded by Saint Ceitho (Benedictines). Troparion of St Ceitho tone 8 In God's earthly house is the very Gate of Heaven,/ O holy Ceitho in thy foundation thou didst open to men the way of salvation./ Wherefore, O Saint, pray that we, entering His holy temple,/ may worthily stand before God and implore Him to grant mercy to our souls. St. Pabiali (Partypallai) of Wales --------------------------------------------------------------- 5th or 6th century. Pabiali, another son of the British prince Brychan by his Spanish wife Proistri, is said to have gone to Spain. He is patron of a chapel called Partypallai in Wales (Benedictines). St. Cledwyn (Clydwyn) of Wales --------------------------------------------------------------- 5th century. Patron saint of Llangledwyn in Carmarthenshire. Alleged to have been the eldest son of King Saint Brychan (f.d. April 6), and to have succeeded him as ruler of part of his dominions (Benedictines). St. Dingad (Digat) of Wales --------------------------------------------------------------- Died 5th century. Saint Dingad was another son of the chieftain Brychan of Brecknock (f.d. April 6). He led a monastic or eremitical life at Llandingad (Llandovery, Dyfed) in Monmouthshire, southern Wales. The patron of Dingestow (Gwent) may be today's saint or Dingad ab Nudd Hael, king of Bryn Buga (Benedictines, Bowen, Farmer). Troparion of Ss Pabiali, Cledwyn and Dingad tone 4 Treasures of the legacy of Brychan,/ noble ascetics and teachers of the Orthodox Faith,/ O pious Pabiali, Cledwyn and Dingad, who make this day illustrious with your memory,/ cease not in your intercessions before the Throne of Grace/ that Christ our God will be gracious to us and show us great mercy. St. Gwythian (Gwithian, Gothian) --------------------------------------------------------------- Date unknown. Saint Gwythian, patron of a church in northern Cornwall and a nearby ruined chapel, settled at Towednack and was probably associated with Saint Winwaloe (f.d. March 3) (Farmer). Church of Saint Gwithian in Cornwall http://homepages.tesco.net/~k.wasley/Gwithian.htm Lives kindly supplied by: For All the Saints: http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htm These Lives are archived at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤