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St Dyfrig

Our father among the saints Dyfrig (pronounced Duv'-rig, for those of your unfamiliar with Welsh) was born in the about 5 miles from here, near what is now the village of Madley, Herefordshire. His infancy shows great similarity to that of his successor, St David. He was born to Efrddyl, the daughter of Peibio, the King of Ergyng. Efrddyl was in the family way without the benefit of marriage and Peibio had her put in a sack and thrown in the River Wye. She miraculously escaped and gave birth the Dyfrig. As an infant, Dyfrig was used by God to heal Peibio of leprosy. This had the not unexpected result of strengthening the relationship between grandfather and grandson. Peibio gave Dyfrig large tracts of land, which would later be useful.

St Dyfrig had a reputation as a scholar from a very early age. He became a monk before being a monk was cool. He established a monastery and seminary at what is now known as Llanfrother Farm, near Hentland. Here he trained missionaries to be sent throughout what is now Wales. The parish church at Hentland is dedicated to him, and is on the foundation of his own church established there. Seven years later he founded a second school at Moccas.

St Dyfrig is known as the father of Welsh monasticism. Among the more than 1000 students who studied under him, many would later be venerated at saints themselves, inluding Teilo, Samson, Ufelfyw, Merchwyn, Elwredd, Gwnwyn, Cynwal, Arthfoddw, Cynnwr, Arwystl, Inabwy, Cynfran, Gwrfan, Elhaern, Iddneu, Gwrddogwy, Gwernabwy, Ieuan, Aeddan and Cynfarch.

Fr Dyfrig was raised to the episcopate as bishop of Ergyng. He later became bishop of all of what is now Gwent and Glamorgan. He raised to Archbishop of Wales by St Germanus, with his seat at Caerleon. It is from here that he very likely crowned the real King Arthur.

As Archbishop, he consecrated bishops who would become some of the best known to history from the Age of Saints. These included St Samson of Dol and St Deiniol of Bangor. St Samson was consecrated on Caldey Island, where Dyfrig would spend Lent each year.

In 545, he attended the famous Synod of Llandewi Brefi which condemned the heresy of Pelagianism. He persuaded a relucted Bishop Dewi to attend. This had a very significant impact on the history of Wales. It was here that ground rose up under Dewi while he was speaking. The impact of his speech was so great that Dyfrig resigned his archbishopric in favour of Dewi, who would move it to Mynyw. Dewi, whose name in English is David, would become the patron saint of Wales.

Upon his resignation, St Dyfrig retired to the abbey on Bardsey Island, off the coast of the Lleyn Peninsula in North Wales. He died there on November 14, though the year is not certain. It was probably around 550. He was buried on this "Island of 20,000 Saints".

St Dyfrig's body was translated to Llandaff Cathedral in 1120, in an effort to support Llandaff's claim to the archepiscopal see of Wales over St David's. As Llandaff was under the control of the Normans, they were attempting to exert English ecclesiastical control over the Welsh. There is no historical evidence that Dyfrig had any connection to Llandaff, other than founding a parish church there.

The precious remains and relics of our holy father were desecrated and obliterated during the time of the Reformation, but his empty tomb is still an occasional place of pilgrimage, for those who remember his contribution to the work of the Gospel throughout western Britain.


Troparion (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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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