Cadfan(Latin:Catamanus), was the 6th century founder-abbotofTywyn(whose church is dedicated to him) andBardsey,both inGwynedd,Wales. He was said to have received the island ofBardseyfromEinion Frenin,king ofLlŷn,around 516 and to have served as its abbot until 542.[2]
Saint Cadfan | |
|---|---|
| Abbot | |
| Born | Brittany[1] |
| Died | 6th century Wales |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Anglican Communion |
| Feast | 1 November |
| Patronage | St Cadfan's Church, Tywyn |
Life and legacy
editMost of the information we have about Cadfan is from theawdlby Llywelyn the Bard in the 12th century. According to this he sailed from Brittany toTywynwith 12 other saints, although some suggest that they came instead fromLlanilltud Fawr.
A Breton nobleman, he was said to be the son of Eneas Ledewig (Aeneas of Brittany) andGwen Teirbron(Gwen Three Breasts), daughter ofBudic IIofBrittany.[3]He was a cousin ofSaint Derfel.
He journeyed to Britain accompanied by the children ofIthel Haelo Lydaw (of Brittany):Baglan,Flewyn,Gredifael,Tanwg,Twrog,Tegai,Trillo,TecwynandLlechid.[4][5]Other reputed followers includeMaëlandIlar.Wade-Evans thoughtKentinlau,who accompanied Cadfan toCeredigion,should be identified withCynllo.[6]They may have fled theFranks.
AtLlangadfanin northernPowyshe founded a church before moving on to Bardsey. He also established aclasatTywyn(traditionally the first suchclasin Wales) which became a wealthy site, served by an abbot and clerics from 1147 to 1291, mother church of thecantrefofMeirionnyddsouth of theRiver Dysynni.[7]
His feast day is 1 November.[1]
References
edit- ^abOnline, Catholic."St. Cadfan - Saints & Angels".Catholic Online.Retrieved29 October2020.
- ^Barber, Chris; Pykitt, David (1 November 1997).Journey to Avalon: the final discovery of King Arthur.Weiser Books. p. 265.ISBN978-1-57863-024-0.Retrieved22 April2011.
- ^Baring-Gould, Sabine; Fisher, John (1908).The Lives of the British Saints: The Saints of Wales and Cornwall and Such Irish Saints as Have Dedications in Britain.For the honourable Society of cymmrodorion, by C. J. Clark.
- ^Williams, Robert (1852).Enwogion Cymru: A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen, from the Earliest Times to the Present, and Including Every Name Connected with the Ancient History of Wales.W. Rees.
- ^Baring-Gould, Sabine; Fisher, John (1 June 2005).The Lives of the British Saints: The Saints of Wales, Cornwall and Irish Saints.Kessinger Publishing.ISBN978-0-7661-8767-2.
- ^Wade-Evans, A. W. (1944).Vitae Sanctorum Britanniae et Genealogiae.
- ^Lloyd, John Edward. "Cadfab",Dictionary of Welsh Biography,1959
Sources
edit- The Welsh AcademyEncyclopaedia of Wales,University of Wales Press, 2008,ISBN978-0-7083-1953-6