Celtic and Old English Saints 8 November =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. Cybi of Caenarvon * St. Gervat of Kinnedor * St. Moroc of Scotland * St. Tysilio of Wales =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St. Cybi (Cuby, Keby) of Caenarvon, Abbot Bishop ---------------------------------------------------------- 6th century. Cuby is one of the few saints of Cornwall who seems to have been born there. He may have been the son of Saint Selevan (Levan; f.d. June 8) and cousin of Saint David of Wales (f.d. March 1). Consecrated a bishop, he settled with ten disciples near Tregony. Place names suggest he was an energetic missionary monk, who visited southeast Wales and made his way by sea up the west coast to Anglesey. Here the prince Maelgwn Gwynedd is said to have given him a ruined Roman fort for his headquarters, where the town of Holyhead now stands; it is still known in Welsh as Caer Gybi, Cybi's fort. He is the patron saint of Llangibbi (Monmouth) and of Llangybi (Carnarvon). The existing Life of the saint dates only from the 13th century, and takes him on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem as well as narrating a long stay with Saint Enda (f.d. March 21) on Aranmore. We are told that he was accompanied on Aran by an aged kinsman name Cungar (f.d. November 7), an elusive saint whose name is found in Wales, Brittany, and Somerset (Congresbury). Matthew Arnold in his poem "East and West" narrates--but misunderstands--an Anglesey legend about Saint Cybi (Attwater, Benedictines). Troparion of St Cuby tone 1 By thy journeyings, O Hierarch Cuby,/ thou dost teach us the virtue of making pilgrimages./ Wherefore, O Prince of Ascetics and all-praised Wonderworker,/ we entreat thee to intercede for us/ that Christ our God will not find our lives to be utterly worthless and will show us great mercy. St. Gervat, Hermit of Kinnedor in Moray, Scotland (Gervadius, Garnard, Gerardin, Gernard, Gernardius, Garnet,Garnat) ---------------------------------------------------------- Died c. 934. The Irish Gervadius crossed over to Moray and afterwards became a recluse at Holyman Head near Elgin. His cave, which is mentioned in Elgin charters, survived until the 19th century. The life of Saint Gervadius includes some exchange with the English soldiers sent be King Athelstan in 934, besides the providential arrival of wood for his church by a flooding river (Benedictines, Farmer). St. Moroc of Scotland, Bishop ---------------------------------------------------------- 9th century. Abbot Moroc of Dunkeld, later became the bishop of Dunblane. He appears to have left his name to several churches, and was venerated with a solemn office in the old Scottish rite (Benedictines). St. Tysilio of Wales, Abbot (Suliau, Tyssel, Tyssilo) ---------------------------------------------------------- Died c. 640. Tysilio, a Welsh prince, became abbot of Meifod in Montgomeryshire, where his cultus is centred. Nearby is a town named for him, Llandysilio. He founded several churches in the other parts of Wales, including Clwyd, southwest Cardiganshire, Menai Straits, and near Dyfed. Finally, around 617, he may have migrated to Brittany and died at Saint-Suliac, although this may be a different saint for whom a Welsh origin is claimed (Benedictines, Bowen, Doble, Farmer). Troparion of St Tysilio tone 8 Princely dignity was set at nought by thee, O Father Tysilio,/ for thou didst put aside the glory of this world preferring to serve God in monastic poverty./ Wherefore we pray thee, intercede for us, that with courage we may renounce mammon/ and live only in Christ for the salvation of men's souls. 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 ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
