Celtic and Old English Saints 22 May =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. Boethian of Pierrepont * St. Conall of Inniscoel * St. Helen of Carnarvon * St. Quiteria =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St. Boethian of Pierrepont, Monk Martyr ------------------------------------------------------ Born in Ireland, 7th century. A disciple of Saint Fursey, Boethian built the monastery of Pierrepont near Laon, France. He was murdered by those whom he had felt bound to rebuke. His shrine is still a place of pilgrimage (Benedictines). St. Conall of Inniscoel, Abbot ---------------------------------------- (also known as Coel, Conald) 7th century. Abbot Conall ruled the monastery of Inniscoel in Donegal, where there is a holy well named after him. He is the most celebrated patron of that region (Benedictines, Husenbeth). St. Helen (Elen Luyddog) of Carnarvon ----------------------------------------------------- 4th century; another feast day is celebrated on August 25. Saint Helen was a princess, the wife of Emperor Magnus Clemens Maximus who ruled Britain, Gaul, and Spain from 383 until 388, when he died at Aquileia while en route to Rome to obtain recognition. His wife accompanied him. Apparently they stayed at Treves (Trier, Germany) for some time before travelling further. Welsh tradition attributes to her the making of roads (Sarn Elen or Fford Elen) and leading a military expedition into North Wales. She was reputed to have born five children, including one named Constantine. For this reason she is often confused with Saint Helena, the discoverer of the True Cross. Together with St Constantine (Gestynin) and another son St Peblig, she introduced into Wales the Celtic form of monasticism of St Martin of Tours. St.Gregory of Tours records that Elen and Macsen met St. Martin while they were in Gaul. She may be the patron of some of the Welsh churches bearing the name Helen and of Llanelen in West Gower (Farmer). St. Quiteria, Virgin Martyr ---------------------------------- 5th century. According to legend, Quiteria was the daughter of a Spanish Galician prince who fled to escape his demand that she marry and give up her Christianity. His followers found her at Aire, Gascony, and on his orders, beheaded her there. Quiteria is greatly venerated along the borders of France and Spain, especially in Spanish and French Navarre (Benedictines, Delaney). Lives kindly supplied by: For All the Saints: http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htm These Lives are archived at: 1. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints
