Celtic and Old English Saints 14 November
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* St. Dyfrig of Caerleon
* St. Modan of Scotland
* St. Saens of Saint-Saens
* St. Constant of Lough
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St. Dubricius, Bishop
(Dubritius, Dubric, Dyfig, Dyfrig, Devereux),
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He was born at Moccas (Moch Rhos = Pig's Heath), near Hereford; died c.
545. Some old genealogies show Dyfrig as the great-great-grandson of
Macsen Wledig and Elen of the Ways. Saint Dyfrig was an important
church leader, a monk, in southeast Wales and western Herefordshire.
His earliest foundation was Ariconium (Archenfield, Hereford), but his
most important centres were at Hentland (Henllan) and Moccas in the Wye
valley. Dyfrig attracted numerous disciples to the two monasteries, and
from them founded many other monasteries and churches.
He was associated with Saint Illtyd (f.d. November 6) and, according to
the 7th-century "vita" of Saint Samson, with the island of Caldey for
whose monastery he appointed Saint Samson (July 28) abbot. Later he
consecrated Samson bishop. An ancient, but incomplete, inscription at
Caldey reads "Magl Dubr" ("the tonsured servant of Dubricius").
Dyfrig and Saint Deinol (Daniel; f.d. September 11) were the two
prelates who convinced Saint David (f.d. March 1) to attend the synod of
Brefi. Dyfrig spent the last years of his life at Ynys Enlli (Bardsey)
and died there.
In later medieval legends he becomes the 'archbishop of Caerleon'
(Caerlon-on-Usk) and, according to Geoffrey of Monmouth, crowns 'King'
Arthur at Colchester (he is the high saint of "Idylls of a King"), and
the ecclesiastical politics of the 12th century claimed him as founder
of the Normans' see of Llandaff, where he was one of the four titular
saints of the cathedral.
The later "vita" written by Benedict of Gloucester claims that Dyfrig
was a disciple of Saint Germanus of Auxerre (f.d. July 31), but this is
unlikely. Legend also states that Saint David resigned in his favour as
metropolitan of Wales.
The relics of Saint Dyfrig were translated from Bardsey to Llandaff in
1120. He is the 'Dubric the high saint, Chief of the church in Britain'
of Tennyson's "Coming of Arthur," and the place-name Saint Devereux in
Herefordshire is a corruption of the saint's name.
Church dedications to him at Gwenddwr (Powys) and Porlock (Somerset)
suggest that his disciples were active in the expansion of Christianity
to the west and southwest, possibly in association with the
multitudinous children Saint Brychan of Brecknock (f.d. April 6)
(Attwater, Benedictines, Doble, Delaney, Farmer).
In art Saint Dubricius is depicted holding two crosiers and an
archiepiscopal cross. He is venerated in Herefordshire, Monmouthshire,
and Caldey Island (Roeder).
Stained Glass of St. Dubricius
http://www.geocities.com/~dubricius/dubricbg.html
Saint Dubricius Home Page
Interesting papers on mainly Welsh themes
http://www.geocities.com/~dubricius/
Troparion of St Dyfrig tone 1
Thou art worthily honoured as the Father of Welsh Monasticism. O
Hierarch Dyfrig,/ labouring to establish true asceticism with thy
brother in the Faith, Samson of Dol/ whom thou didst raise to the
dignity of the episcopate./ In thy pastoral love, O Saint,/ pray for us
that despite our unspiritual lives/ Christ our God will grant us great
mercy.
St. Modanic (Modan) of Aberdeen, Bishop
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Dates unknown, possibly 8th century. The feast of the Scottish bishop
Modanic was kept at Aberdeen and Philorth (Fraserburgh), but of whom we
have no reliable particulars. His silver head-relic at Philorth was
previously carried in procession to invoke rain or otherwise improve the
weather. He is principally associated with the foundation at Timhood
(Benedictines, Farmer).
St. Sidonius (Saens) of Saint-Saens, Abbot
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Died c. 690. Saint Sidonius, an Irishman, became a monk at Jumieges (an
offshoot of the Irish foundation of Luxeuil) under Saint Philibert (f.d.
August 20) in 644. Later Sidonius was appointed by Saint Ouen (f.d.
August 24), one of the three brothers Saint Columbanus (f.d. November
23) blessed in their childhood, to be the first abbot of a small
monastery which that bishop had founded near Rouen: this monastery was
later called Saint-Saens (Benedictines, D'Arcy, Gougaud, Kenney,
Montalembert, Tommasini).
St. Constant, Priest-Hermit at Lough, Ireland
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Icons of Western Saints
http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/icons/Western.html
Calendar of Celtic and Old English Saints
http://web.archive.org/web/20040810020519/www.orthodoxireland.com/saints/calendarofsaints
Tiny Url:
http://tinyurl.com/5kt36e
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
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