St Teilo – ora pro nobis

Today is the Feast of St Teilo, who is also known as Eliud, Issell and Teilou. He is one of the Saints from that time in the Church’s history here in Britain which is referred to as “The Age of the Saints” (Oes y Saint). This period, from the early 4th until the 7th century, was an extremely productive time for the ancient Church in Britain. Close to annihilation, thanks to the pagan invasions of the Anglo-Saxons, the Church was desperate for courageous and holy leaders to bring it through this crisis, and confirm it in its faith and mission. Through God's grace many holy men and women rose to answer His call – revitalising the Church and saving the old British culture and civilisation.

St Teilo was, like so many British saints, a nobleman of ancient Britain. He was born in Pembrokeshire – an enclave of the old Britons. He was the grandson of King Ceredig of Ceredigion. His father was Prince Ensig ap Hydwn. Another Celtic saint born of royal blood is St Seiriol, whose feast day it was last week. These men, like so many other Disciples of Christ, managed to do what the rich young man in the Gospels was so sadly unable to do – give away their riches, and follow the Lord into poverty and joy.

At the time of St Teilo’s birth, around 480AD, war and genocide were ravaging Britain (or Britannia). The Anglo-Saxons had put nearly all the ancient Britons to death, and the ancient Church, the Church of St Alban and the earliest Christian martyrs of Roman Britain, had all but been destroyed. All that remained of these people, and their faith, was to be found in the caves, marshes and mountains of the West and old North – modern day Wales, Strathclyde, Cumbria, Cornwall and Brittany. Those who had been kept alive by the Saxons, usually as slaves, either had to convert to paganism or saw their faith die with them. It was not an easy time to be a Catholic Christian – and, although the Church remained closely attached to Rome and continental Christendom she was almost left to her own devices. Just as in today’s secular Britain many Christians decided to “join the crowd” – for many, threatened with death, it was easier to become pagan than die for the faith. Others felt great despair, and thought, as the Israelites had done centuries before, that God had abandoned them – had set his face against them, possibly on account of some collective sin. Yet others, thankfully, managed to hold on and fight back – proclaiming the Good News of Christ’s victory even if it wasn’t as popular as it had been. St Teilo was one of these men who refused to let the faith of his people die, and went on to save many a wavering soul.

St Teilo’s teacher was St Paulinus of Whitland, who was also St David’s tutor. Along with two other men, both David and Teilo founded the great monastery of Mynyw (Menevia) – now called St David’s (Cathedral). It was no easy task – for not only were these Britons facing death from the pagan east, but also from the Irish who had settled along the Welsh coast. Fortunately, God took care of the Irish barbarians – thus allowing St David the space and peace needed to found his monastic settlement. After many years of prayer, penance and study Ss David, Teilo and (another friend) Padarn travelled to Jerusalem on pilgrimage. It was during this expedition that, according to legend, all three were ordained to the episcopacy by Pope St Hormisdas, whilst visiting Rome (though some claim this happened at the hands of John III, Patriarch of Jerusalem). It is more than probable that this account of an ordination in Rome is quite true, as many of the Bishops of the ancient British Church were ordained there – such was their desire to remain in close communion with the See of St Peter. It was also practically impossible to consecrate bishops in Britannia due to the effects of the Saxon invasions – which led to general disarray and disorganisation amongst the old Church. On his return home to Britain St Teilo was appointed Bishop of Glywysing and Gwent. He then founded his great monastery, Llandeilo Fawr, to be the new Episcopal See. This monastery would remain for centuries one of the great seats of learning in Britain – well before the abbeys of Ireland, or the subduing of the Saxon pagans. The monks of this Abbey provided the Church with great minds and holy men – and one of the treasures of the place, the 8th Century Llandeilo Fawr Gospels, is to be found in Lichfield Cathedral (where it is known, wrongly, as the St Chad’s Gospel). This beautifully illumined manuscript is written both in Latin and Welsh, and is well worth a look. It is probably one of our least known, but most impressive, treasurers.

St Teilo didn’t remain in his new diocese and abbey for too long. He had the urge to preach the Gospel amongst other ancient Britons, and also had to leave Llandeilo for a while as the whole of Wales was struck down with yellow fever (in 549AD). Teilo travelled with his monks to Cornwall and Brittany, staying as the guests of local Kings and noblemen. When they arrived at Dol, in Brittany, St Samson, who was at the time Archbishop of the local diocese, warmly welcomed them. He asked them to minister amongst the local population where they stayed, and where they founded numerous churches. This ministry lasted for over seven years. During his time in Brittany St Teilo also planted numerous fruit trees – hence he is patron saint of orchards and fruit trees.

After his mission to the Bretons, St Teilo had a longing for his old monastery and moved back to Wales with most of his monks. On the way back they were guests of King Geraint (Gerron, or Gerontius) of Dumnonia (modern-day Devon and Somerset). The King was gravely ill, and received his viaticum and the last rites of the Church at the hands of the Saint before dying. This King is familiar to any who might have read or studied the great epic poem of Aneurin, Y Gododdin, for he is immortalised in it as Gereint rac Dehau (Gerontius for the South), the one who fought the Saxons in Catreath (Catterick).

St Teilo remained in Llandeilo Fawr for the rest of his life – where he became known as one of the holiest men in Wales, and from where he ran most of the ancient Church in South Wales. He is even said to have consecrated one of his nephews as Archbishop of St David’s, following the death of St David of Wales. After many years of living the “solitary life gloriously” (as his Life, Vita sancti Teiliaui, puts it) the great Saint died in 566AD. He was buried in his Abbey church, though medieval accounts claimed that his body multiplied so as to be buried all at once in various locations! It is far more likely, though, that when Llandaff succeeded as the major Episcopal See for that part of Wales the saint’s body was translated there – where it remains to this day, his body enshrined near the High Altar, whilst his head rests in the South Chapel. There is also a beautiful image in this cathedral of both St Teilo and St Samson of Dol planting an orchard – it’s well worth seeing if you ever happen to pass by!

There are many ancient churches dedicated to St Teilo in Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and other parts of France. He is always depicted as a Bishop and / or Abbot, usually in an orchard with a stag nearby. The stag reminds us of the incident when two such creatures helped the saint move some wood (which he was chopping to fuel the monastery’s communal fire) so that he could hasten back to his prayers! He is patron of horses, fruit trees and orchards.

Sant Teilo o Landeilo Fawr, gweddia drosom ni!

[Picture note: St Teilo riding a white stag, from a 15th church window in Plogonnec, Brittany; Page from the Llandeilo Fawr Gospels, Lichfield Cathedral - please search for other examples on-line, especially for images of the beautiful frontispiece]