Celtic and Old English Saints 1 July =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. Servan of Culross * St. Aaron and St. Julius of Caerleon * St. Cewydd of Anglesey * St. Gwenyth of Cornwall =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St. Servan (Serf), Bishop of Culross, Scotland, Co-labourer of Saint Ninian --------------------------------------------------- 6th century. Patron of the Orkney Islands. Bishop. Also known as Servanus, Serf, or Sair. According to an tradition, he was from Ireland, receiving consecration as bishop from St. Palladius and preaching among the Seots. He is honoured as the patron of the Orkney Islands, although it is unlikely that he was ever there. He is called the Apostle of West Fife. St. Aaron and St. Julius and Companions, Martyrs of Caerleon, Wales ----------------------------------------------- Date unknown, probably c. 304-305. Julius and Aaron were Roman-Britons who are said to have been put to death at Caerleon-upon-Usk in Monmouthshire, Britain, perhaps in the middle of the 3rd century. Saint Gildas (f.d. January 29) records that they died under Diocletian, but it is now believed that Diocletian's decree against Christians was not enforced in Britain. Saint Bede (f.d. May 25) simply records their illustrious triumph and that "very many others of both sexes, by unheard of tortures, attained to the crown of heavenly glory." Another ancient, but not contemporary, hagiographer relates that Julius and Aaron went to Rome and "there applied themselves to the sacred studies." Nothing else is recorded about them. The date c. 304, during the persecution of Diocletian, commonly given to these martyrs is only a conjecture (though a very old one). Attestation to their cultus can be found in church dedications in and near Caerleon, and mention in the Book of Llan Dav. Gerald of Wales writes that their relics were venerated in Caerleon in 1200 AD, and that each was titular to a church and a monastery; Julius's name belonged to a convent and Aaron's to an abbey of canons. Their feast is kept in the diocese of Cardiff (Attwater, Attwater2, Benedictines, Farmer, Husenbeth). St. Cewydd of Anglesey, Wales -------------------------------------------- St. Gwenyth, Virgin of Cornwall, Sister of Saint Samson of York -------------------------------------------- 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 *****************************************