Saint Teilo ( Latin : Teliarus or Teliavus ; Breton : Teliau or Telo ; French : Télo or Théleau ; c. 500 – 9 February c. 560 ), also known by his Cornish name Eliud , was a British Christian monk, bishop, and founder of monasteries and churches. He was from Penalun ( Penally ) near Tenby in Pembrokeshire , south Wales.
49-491: Reputed to be a cousin, friend, and disciple of Saint David , he was bishop of Llandaff and founder of the first church at Llandaff Cathedral , where his tomb is. He also founded Llandeilo Fawr , as well as Penally Abbey at his place of birth. St Teilo may have been known as Eliau or Eilliau in Old Welsh . He was born at Penalun (Penally) around the year 500. Teilo's father is usually identified as Ensich ap Hydwn, and he
98-451: A Choral Eucharist on Saint David's Day, 2012. A broadside ballad published around 1630 claimed that the Welsh wore a leek in their hats to commemorate a battle fought on St David's Day. So as to recognise friend from foe, the Welsh had pulled up leeks from a garden and put them in their hats, before going on to win the battle. Saint David is usually represented standing on a hill with
147-613: A reliquary , which was in the possession of the Mathew family from 1480 to 1658 after Sir David Mathew restored St. Teilo's shrine in Llandaff Cathedral, which was desecrated by pirates Briston. It was gifted by Bishop Marshall . It is stated that many miracles were witnessed there while he was alive and also later at his tomb. Relics are now even more widely distributed: they are venerated at Landeleau (Finistère), Plogonnec (Finistère), and Saint-Thélo (Côtes-du-Nord). In
196-685: A dove on his shoulder. David is remembered in the Church of England with a Lesser Festival and on the Episcopal Church liturgical calendar on 1 March . David's popularity in Wales is shown by the Armes Prydein of around 930, a popular poem which prophesied that in the future, when all might seem lost, the Cymry ( Welsh people ) would unite behind the standard of David to defeat
245-522: A large area of this region but also of Britain" Archaeological sites along the south coast of England, notably at Hengistbury Head , show connections with Armorica as far east as the Solent . This 'prehistoric' connection of Cornwall and Brittany set the stage for the link that continued into the medieval era. Still farther East, however, the typical Continental connections of the Britannic coast were with
294-483: A portable casket on the stone base of the shrine. It was at this shrine that Edward I came to pray in 1284. During the reformation Bishop Barlow (1536–48), a staunch Protestant, stripped the shrine of its jewels and confiscated the relics of David and Justinian. David was officially recognised at the Holy See by Pope Callixtus II in 1120, thanks to the work of Bernard, Bishop of St David's . Music for his Liturgy of
343-609: A sapphire altar was among the items Henry VIII of England confiscated from the abbey during the Dissolution of the Monasteries a thousand years later. Though the exact date of his death is not certain, tradition holds that it was on 1 March, which is the date now marked as Saint David's Day . The two most common years given for his death are 601 and 589. The monastery is said to have been "filled with angels as Christ received his soul". His last words to his followers were in
392-911: A sector of the Roman defence line in Gaul in Late Antiquity , the Tractus Armoricani ('Armorican Tract'). In medieval Insular Celtic languages , the Celtic term *Litauia , meaning 'Land' or 'Country' (from an original Proto-Celtic * Litauī 'Earth', lit. 'the Vast One'), came to be used to designate the Brittany Peninsula, as in Old Irish Letha , Old Welsh Litau , Old Breton Letau , or in
441-460: A sermon on the previous Sunday. The Welsh Life of St David gives these as, " Arglwyddi, brodyr, a chwiorydd, Byddwch lawen a chadwch eich ffyd a'ch credd, a gwnewch y petheu bychain a glywsoch ac y welsoch gennyf i. A mwynhau a gerdaf y fford yd aeth an tadeu idi ", which translates as, "Lords, brothers and sisters, Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed, and do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. And as for me, I will walk
490-512: A vision, David's wish was granted and told that from then on, people who lived in the land of Dewi Sant (Saint David) "would be forewarned by the dim light of mysterious tapers when and where the death might be expected". The colour and size of the tapers indicated whether the person to die would be a woman, man, or child. Armorica In ancient times, Armorica or Aremorica ( Gaulish : Aremorica ; Breton : Arvorig [arˈvoːrik] ; French : Armorique [aʁmɔʁik] )
539-479: Is an honourable badge of the service, and I do believe, your Majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek upon Saint Tavy's day". King Henry: "I wear it for a memorable honour; for I am Welsh, you know, good countryman". Rhigyfarch counted Glastonbury Abbey among the churches David founded. Around forty years later William of Malmesbury , believing the Abbey older, said that David visited Glastonbury only to rededicate
SECTION 10
#1732788097918588-635: Is listed under 1 March with the Latin name Dávus . He is recognised as bishop of Menevia in Wales who governed his monastery following the example of the Eastern Fathers . Through his leadership, many monks went forth to evangelise Wales, Ireland, Cornwall and Armorica (Brittany and surrounding provinces). The restored Shrine of Saint David was unveiled and rededicated by the Right Reverend Wyn Evans , Bishop of St David's , at
637-663: Is not infrequently represented, as in many Breton churches, riding a stag. At least 25 churches and schools in Wales, Brittany, and Cornwall and Devon are dedicated to him including St Teilo's Church, Llandeloy , St Teilo's Church, Llantilio Pertholey, St Teilo's Catholic Church in Whitchurch, Cardiff and St Teilo's Church in Wales High School , Cardiff, while there are three villages in Brittany named Landeleau , Landêliau and Saint-Thélo after him. St. Teilo
686-551: Is said to have been anointed as an archbishop by the patriarch ). The tradition that he was born at Henfynyw (Vetus-Menevia) in Ceredigion is not improbable. He became renowned as a teacher and preacher, founding monastic settlements and churches in Wales, Dumnonia , and Brittany . St David's Cathedral stands on the site of the monastery he founded in the Glyn Rhosyn valley of Pembrokeshire . Around 550, he attended
735-467: Is the Patron Saint of the city of Cardiff . The festival in honour of Saint Teilo is observed at different times of the year at different places: in Wales and at Saint Télo, on 9 February; at Dol, on 29 November; and on 25 November in the rest of the churches in Brittany. Following 1752 , however, his fair at Llandeilo in Wales was not observed on the 9th but eleven days later on the 20th or on
784-486: Is uncertain: suggestions range from 462 to 512. He is traditionally believed to be the son of Non and the grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda , king of Ceredigion . The Welsh annals placed his death 569 years after the birth of Christ, but Phillimore 's dating revised this to 601. Many of the traditional tales about David are found in the Buchedd Dewi ("Life of David"), a hagiography written by Rhygyfarch in
833-628: The Eburovices and Cenomani ), the Parisii , Tricasses , Andicavi , Viducasses , Bodiocasses , Veneti , Coriosvelites , Diablinti , Rhedones , Turones , and the Atseui . Trade between Armorica and Britain, described by Diodorus Siculus and implied by Pliny was long-established. Because, even after the campaign of Publius Crassus in 56 BC, continued resistance to Roman rule in Armorica
882-575: The Middle Ages . During the 10th and 11th centuries the Cathedral was regularly raided by Vikings , who removed the shrine from the church and stripped off the precious metal adornments. In 1275 a new shrine was constructed, the ruined base of which remains to this day (see photo), which was originally surmounted by an ornamental wooden canopy with murals of David, Patrick and Denis . The relics of David and Justinian of Ramsey Island were kept in
931-508: The Synod of Brefi , where his eloquence in opposing Pelagianism caused his fellow monks to elect him primate of the region. As such he presided over the synod of Caerleon (the " Synod of Victory ") around 569. His best-known miracle is said to have taken place when he was preaching in the middle of a large crowd at the Synod of Brefi: the village of Llanddewi Brefi stands on the spot where
980-671: The "founder saints" of Brittany. The linguistic origins of Breton are clear: it is a Brythonic language descended from the Celtic British language , like Welsh and Cornish one of the Insular Celtic languages , brought by these migrating Britons. Still, questions of the relations between the Celtic cultures of Britain— Cornish and Welsh —and Celtic Breton are far from settled. Martin Henig (2003) suggests that in Armorica as in sub-Roman Britain : There
1029-626: The 2004 edition of the Roman Martyrology , Teilo is listed under 9 February with the Latin name Teliávus . He is recognised as bishop and abbot at the monastery in Llandaf, Wales. He is said to have been canonized, though the exact date is not known, but he is acknowledged as one who undertook extraordinary labours in behalf of the church in Wales and Cornwall and who was also celebrated in Armorica (Brittany and surrounding provinces). He
SECTION 20
#17327880979181078-537: The Abbey and to donate a travelling altar including a great sapphire . He had had a vision of Jesus who said that "the church had been dedicated long ago by Himself in honour of His Mother, and it was not seemly that it should be re-dedicated by human hands". So David instead commissioned an extension to be built to the abbey, east of the Old Church. (The dimensions of this extension given by William were verified archaeologically in 1921.) One manuscript indicates that
1127-476: The English; " A lluman glân Dewi a ddyrchafant " ("And they will raise the pure banner of Dewi"). David is said to have played a role in spreading Christianity on the continent, inspiring numerous place names in Brittany including Saint-Divy , Saint-Yvi and Landivy . David's life and teachings have inspired a choral work by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins , Dewi Sant . It is a seven-movement work best known for
1176-458: The Frankish mainland from the island, largely legendary for him, of Brittia . These settlers, whether refugees or not, made the presence felt of their coherent groups in the naming of the westernmost, Atlantic-facing provinces of Armorica, Cornouaille (" Cornwall ") and Domnonea (" Devon "). These settlements are associated with leaders like Saints Samson of Dol and Pol Aurelian , among
1225-629: The Gaulish origin of the name, that is perfectly correct and logical, as Aremorica is not a country name but a word that describes a type of geographical region, one that is by the sea. Pliny lists the following Celtic tribes as living in the area: the Aedui and Carnuteni as having treaties with Rome ; the Meldi and Secusiani as having some measure of independence; and the Boii , Senones , Aulerci (both
1274-922: The Hours has been edited by O. T. Edwards in Matins, Lauds and Vespers for St David's Day: the Medieval Office of the Welsh Patron Saint in National Library of Wales MS 20541 E (Cambridge, 1990). David was also canonized by the Eastern Orthodox Church at an unknown date. Over 50 churches in South Wales were dedicated to him in pre-Reformation days. In the 2004 edition of the Roman Martyrology , David
1323-605: The Latinized form Letavia . In Breton , which belongs to the Brythonic branch of the Insular Celtic languages, along with Welsh and Cornish , "on [the] sea" is war vor (Welsh ar fôr , "f" being voiced and pronounced like English "v"), but the older form arvor is used to refer to the coastal regions of Brittany, in contrast to argoad ( ar "on/at", coad "forest" [Welsh ar goed or coed "trees"]) for
1372-470: The Sunday following that date. Saint David David ( Welsh : Dewi Sant ; Latin : Davidus ; c. 500 – c. 589 ) was a Welsh Christian prelate who served as Bishop of Mynyw during the 6th century. He is the patron saint of Wales . David was a native of Wales, and tradition has preserved a relatively large amount of detail about his life. His birth date, however,
1421-611: The Visigothic King Theodoric I clashed violently with the Hunnic alliance commanded by King Attila the Hun . Jordanes lists Aëtius' allies as including Armoricans and other Celtic or German tribes (Getica 36.191). The "Armorican" peninsula came to be settled with Britons from Britain during the poorly documented period of the 5th–7th centuries. Even in distant Byzantium Procopius heard tales of migrations to
1470-530: The classical crossover series Adiemus , which intersperses movements reflecting the themes of David's last sermon with those drawing from three Psalms. An oratorio by another Welsh composer Arwel Hughes , also entitled Dewi Sant , was composed in 1950. Saint David is also thought to be associated with corpse candles , lights that would warn of the imminent death of a member of the community. The story goes that David prayed for his people to have some warning of their death, so that they could prepare themselves. In
1519-408: The confession King Geraint and joined Samson of Dol at Dol: to this day the fruit groves they planted are known as the groves of Teilo and Samson. Legend has it that Teilo was asked by Budic II of Brittany to subdue a belligerent winged dragon, which he tamed and tied to a rock in the sea off Brittany. After his return to Llandeilo Fawr, where he is documented to have died on 9 February, although
Saint Teilo - Misplaced Pages Continue
1568-451: The ground on which he stood is reputed to have risen up to form a small hill. A white dove, which became his emblem, was seen settling on his shoulder. John Davies notes that one can scarcely "conceive of any miracle more superfluous" in that part of Wales than the creation of a new hill. David is said to have denounced Pelagianism during this incident and he was declared archbishop by popular acclaim according to Rhygyfarch, bringing about
1617-783: The ground. He succeeded Dubricius as Bishop of Llandaff after Dubricius retired to a hermitage on Bardsey Island. Teilo founded the first church in Llandaff , headed a monastic school, and become bishop over Glywysing & Gwent. In the 540s yellow plague, probably the Justinian plague , affected Britain. In 549 Teilo, with a small group of monks, moved to Dol in Brittany . He is reported to have stayed in Brittany for seven years and seven months and so must have left in 556 or 557, although some sources imply he returned in 554. They traveled through Dumnonia and were reported to have received
1666-588: The inland regions. The cognate modern usages suggest that the Romans first contacted coastal people in the inland region and assumed that the regional name Aremorica referred to the whole area, both coastal and inland. Pliny the Elder , in his Natural History (4.17.105), claims that Armorica was the older name for Aquitania and states Armorica's southern boundary extended to the Pyrenees . Taking into account
1715-477: The late 11th century. Rhygyfarch claimed it was based on documents found in the cathedral archives. Modern historians are sceptical of some of its claims: one of Rhygyfarch's aims was to establish some independence for the Welsh church, which had refused the Roman rite until the 8th century and now sought a metropolitan status equal to that of Canterbury (this may apply to the supposed pilgrimage to Jerusalem where he
1764-620: The lower Seine valley instead. Archaeology has not yet been as enlightening in Iron-Age Armorica as the coinage, which has been surveyed by Philip de Jersey . Under the Roman Empire , Armorica was administered as part of the province of Gallia Lugdunensis , which had its capital in Lugdunum , (modern day Lyon ). When the Roman provinces were reorganized in the 4th century, Armorica ( Tractus Armoricanus et Nervicanus )
1813-579: The name Armorica fell out of use in the area. With western Armorica having already evolved into Brittany , the east was recast from a Frankish viewpoint as the Breton March under a Frankish margrave . The home village of the fictional comic-book hero Asterix was located in Armorica during the Roman Republic ; there, "indomitable Gauls" hold out against Rome. The unnamed village was reported as having been discovered by archaeologists in
1862-431: The path that our fathers have trod before us." "Do ye the little things in life" (" Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd ") is today a very well known phrase in Welsh. The same passage states that he died on a Tuesday, from which attempts have been made to calculate the year of his death. David was buried at St David's Cathedral at St Davids , Pembrokeshire , where his shrine was a popular place of pilgrimage throughout
1911-473: The region were called Aremorici ( sing. Aremoricos ), formed with the stem are-mori - extended by the determinative suffix - cos . It is glossed by the Latin antemarini in Endlicher's Glossary . The Slavs use a similar formation, Po-mor-jane ('those in front of the sea'), to designate the inhabitants of Pomerania . The Latin adjective Armoricani was an administrative term designating in particular
1960-491: The retirement of Dubricius . St David's metropolitan status as an archbishopric was later supported by Bernard, Bishop of St David's , Geoffrey of Monmouth , and Gerald of Wales . The Monastic Rule of David prescribed that monks had to pull the plough themselves without draught animals, and must drink only water and eat only bread with salt and herbs. The monks spent their evenings in prayer, reading and writing. No personal possessions were allowed: even to say "my book"
2009-550: The same." According to C. E. V. Nixon , the collapse of Roman power and the depredations of the Visigoths led Armorica to act "like a magnet to peasants, coloni , slaves and the hard-pressed" who deserted other Roman territories, further weakening them. Vikings settled in the Cotentin peninsula and the lower Seine around Rouen in the ninth and early tenth centuries and, as these regions came to be known as Normandy ,
Saint Teilo - Misplaced Pages Continue
2058-413: The year, though probably around 560, is unknown, he became one of the most venerated men in Wales. At his death Teilo's body was said to have miraculously become three identical bodies, probably because his relics were claimed by three churches, Llandaff Cathedral , Llandeilo Fawr , and Penally Abbey . One tomb lies to the right of the altar of Llandaff Cathedral : his skull is kept in the south chapel in
2107-520: Was a fair amount of creation of identity in the migration period . We know that the mixed, but largely British and Frankish population of Kent repackaged themselves as ' Jutes ', and the largely British populations in the lands east of Dumnonia (Devon and Cornwall) seem to have ended up as 'West Saxons'. In western Armorica, the small élite which managed to impose an identity on the population happened to be British rather than 'Gallo-Roman' in origin, so they became Bretons. The process may have been essentially
2156-671: Was a region of Gaul between the Seine and the Loire that includes the Brittany Peninsula , and much of historical Normandy . The name Armorica is a Latinized form of the Gaulish toponym Aremorica , which literally means 'place in front of the sea'. It is formed with the prefix are - ('in front of') attached to - mori - ('sea') and the feminine suffix -(i)cā , denoting the localization (or provenance). The inhabitants of
2205-586: Was considered an offence. He lived a simple life and practised asceticism , teaching his followers to refrain from eating meat and drinking beer . His symbol, also the symbol of Wales, is the leek (this inspires a reference in Shakespeare 's Henry V , Act V scene 1): Fluellen: "If your Majesty is remembered of it, the Welshmen did good service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps , which your Majesty knows, to this hour
2254-525: Was established by the renowned Church leader and educator Dubricius (or Dyfrig), while the second was the school directed by Paulinus of Wales at "Wincdi-Lantquendi" (thought to be Whitland) where he met and became a close companion of St David (Dewi). Like many founder-bishops, they appear to have had experience in battle. Along with companions Aeddan and Ysfael, he traveled to Mynyw (St. Davids), where Dewi founded his abbey, and ousted an Irish pirate named Bwya, killed his cattle and burnt his fortress to
2303-606: Was placed under the second and third divisions of Lugdunensis. After the legions retreated from Britannia (407 AD) the local elite there expelled the civilian magistrates in the following year; Armorica too rebelled in the 430s and again in the 440s, throwing out the ruling officials, as the Romano-Britons had done. At the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in 451 a Roman coalition led by General Flavius Aetius and
2352-581: Was still being supported by Celtic aristocrats in Britain . Julius Caesar led two invasions of Britain, in 55 BC, and again in 54 BC, in response. Some hint of the complicated cultural web that bound Armorica and the Britanniae (the "Britains" of Pliny) is given by Caesar when he describes Diviciacus of the Suessiones as "the most powerful ruler in the whole of Gaul, who had control not only over
2401-581: Was thought to be the brother of Anowed, and the uncle of Saints Ismael and Euddogwy . In some modern sources, he is accounted the grandson of Ceredig son of Cunedda and thus a member of the royal family of Gwynedd which later considered Saint David among its members. However, that rather dubious connection to a northern dynasty seems to depend on the Iolo Manuscripts now known to have been forged by Edward Williams . Teilo's education took place at two institutions directed by saints. The first
#917082