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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