Saint Teilo

Saint Teilo
Born	c.500 Penally, Pembrokeshire, U.K.
Died	c. 560 Llandeilo Fawr
Honored in	Wales, Britain.
Feast	9 February

Saint Teilo, (Latin:Teliaus, Issell, Teillo in Breton, Teilou, Dub, and Theliau, Télo in French and also Eliau or Eliud) (c. 500 – 9 February c. 560) was a British Christian saint - a monk, bishop and founder of monasteries and churches. He was from Penalun (Penally), near Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, in south Wales. Reputed to be the cousin, friend and disciple of Saint David, he was the Bishop of Llandeilo Fawr and Llandaff and founded some important monasteries including Llandeilo Fawr, Penally Abbey in his place of birth and Llandaff Cathedral, where his tomb lies today.

Biography

Teilo was the son of Prince Ensich ap Hydwn, the grandson of King Ceredig of Ceredigion. According to traditions recorded in later hagiography Teilo was a scion of an important family (royal lineage is traced to the Cunnedian Line of princess), which also included his first cousin, Saint David. He was educated as a boy under St Paulinus of Wales at Wincdi-Lantquendi, where he became a close friend/disciple of Saint David, claimed to be his cousin, and befriended Aeddan and Ysfael. At one time these young men travelled to Mynyw (St. Davids), the place where St David founded the famous abbey. Whilst there they were said to have been antagonized by an Irish pirate named Bwya who had come to slay St David. He was soon ousted, his cattle killed and his fortress burnt to the ground. It is also said that he visited Jerusalem and Palestine along with his friend St. David.

The traditions indicate that he was instructed by St Dubricius (in Welsh, Dyfrig), and succeeded Dubricius as Bishop of Llandaff, where he founded the first church in Llandaff. He was quite successful as a preacher and served as abbot-bishop of Llandaff monastery. He also appears to have succeeded St Dyfrig as Bishop in Glywysing & Gwent and was believed to have moved his seat to Llandeilo Fawr. At this period it is likely that, in common with the Irish Church, the system of fixed diocesan Sees had not yet been fully established. He later founded a monastery in his native village at Penally Abbey, which centuries later became a nunnery. When he became Bishop at Llandaff in 544 (he had moved to Llandaff from where Menevia) he had many other Suffragan or Chorepiscopi Bishops. Ismael was appointed as Bishop at Menevia.

In the 540s, yellow plague affected this part of Wales (which occurred during the reign of Maeigwn, King of North Wales) When the epidemic subsided, Teilo became Bishop in Menevia. In 549, Teilo left Britain with a small group of monks and moved to Dol in Brittany. Along the way they traveled through Dumnonia and were reported to have entertained King Geraint, also known as Gerren.^{[citation needed]} Teilo joined Samson of Dol at Dol and to this very day the fruit groves which they planted remain and are known as the groves of Teilo and Samson. Legend has it that while there he was assigned by King Budic II to subdue a belligerent winged dragon, which he was said to have tamed and then tied to a rock in the sea off Brittany. He is reported to have stayed in Brittany for seven years and seven months so must have left in 556 or 557, although some sources imply he returned in 554, contradicting the seven year claim.

Another incident that happened in the hall of the King Aercol Law Hir, related to daily murder among the king’s men, which was attributed to some evil spirit haunting the place. On a request from the king, St Teilo sent his two intellectual men to help out. The day they arrived at the hall food was served by the learned men to all including the king, where after no murders occurred at the hall and the evil spell was broken. In appreciation of the help rendered, the king granted land to St. Teilo.

After his return from Brittany, he was later known to have returned to Llandeilo Fawr Abbey where he is documented to have died on 9 February, although his actual death year is unknown, but probably around 560. After his death he became one of the most venerated men in Wales. His tomb lies to the right of the altar of Llandaff Cathedral; his skull is kept in the south chapel. It is also stated that his true body is preserved at his own church at Llandaff where many miracles were witnessed while he was alive and also later at his tomb.

St Teilo in Holy Trinity Church, Abergavenny

He is said to have been canonized, though exact date is not known. He is not infrequently represented. In many churches at Breton, the saint is shown riding a stag.

Roman Martyrology

In the 2004 edition of the Roman Martyrology, Teilo is listed under 9 February with the Latin name Teliávi. He is recognised as bishop and abbot at the monastery in Llandaf, Wales. He is acknowledged as one who undertook extraordinary labours in behalf of the church in Wales and Cornwall, and who was also celebrated in Armorica (Brittany and surrounding provinces).

Festival

The festival in honour of St.Teilo is observed at different times of the year at different places; in Wales and at Saint Télo on 9 February; at Dol, on 29 November; and on on 25 November in rest of the churches in Brittany.

Legacy

St Teilo's Church, Llantilio

Following his own death his body is said to have miraculously become three identical bodies, a detail probably invented due to the fact that the popular saint's relics were claimed by three churches – Llandaff Cathedral, Llandeilo Vawr, and Penally Abbey. His relics were widely distributed and are venerated at Landeleau (Finistère), Plogonnac (Finistère), and Saint Télo (Côtes-du-Nord). His name survives in toponyms across Wales, and at least 25 churches and schools in Wales, Brittany, and Cornwall and Devon are dedicated to him:

• St Teilo's Church, Llandeloy
• St Teilo's Church, Llantilio Pertholey
• St Teilo's Church in Wales High School, Cardiff

There are three villages in Brittany named Landelau, Landêliau and Saint-Thélo after him.

See also

• Merthyr Dyfan
• Saint David