St David - Patron Saint of Wales

St David's Day March 1st

Saint David (or Dewi Sant, as he is known in the Welsh language) was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop, who lived in the sixth century. During his life, he was the archbishop of Wales, and he was one of many early saints who helped to spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of western Britain.

There are two main sources of information about the life of David. His biographer, Rhigyfarch, who wrote Buchedd Dewi (the life of David) in the 11th century, and Gerallt Gymro (Giraldus Cambrensis), who wrote a book about his travels through Wales in the 12th century. Because so much time elasped between David's life and the writings, it isn't always clear how much is fact and how much is legend. Both sources say that David was a very gentle person who lived a frugal life. He ate mostly bread and herbs - probably watercress, which was widely used at the time. Despite this meagre diet, it is reported that he was tall and physically strong.

David was born near Capel Non (Non's chapel) on the South-West Wales coast near the present city of Saint David. His father, Sant, was the son of Ceredig, who was prince of Ceredigion, a region in South-West Wales. His mother, Non, was the daughter of a local chieftain. Legend has it that Non was also a niece of King Arthur. He was educated in a monastery called Hen Fynyw, his teacher was Paulinus, a blind monk. David stayed there for some years before going forth with a party of followers on missionary travels. Dewi travelled far on these missionary journeys through Wales, where he established several churches, to the south and west of England and Cornwall as well as Brittany. It is also possible that he visited Ireland and he went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

He founded a monastery at Glyn Rhosyn (Rose Vale) on the banks of the small river Alun where the cathedral city of St. David stands today. David's monastic brotherhood lived a life of extreme austerity. The brothers had to get up very early in the morning for prayers and afterwards work very hard to help maintain life at the monastery, cultivating the land and even pulling the plough. Many crafts were followed - beekeeping, in particular, was very important. The monks had to keep themselves fed as well as the many pilgrims and travellers who needed lodgings. They also had to feed and clothe the poor and needy in their neighbourhood.

There are many stories regarding David's life.

• It is said that he once rose a youth from death, and milestones during his life were marked by the appearance of springs of water.
• While in the monastery at Rose Vale his monks tried to poison him, but St. David, warned by St. Scuthyn, who crossed from Ireland in one night on the back of a sea-monster, blessed the poisoned bread and ate it without harm.
• Perhaps the most well-known story regarding Dewi's life is said to have taken place at the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi. They were to decide whether David was to be Archbishop. A great crowd gathered at the synod, and when David stood up to speak, one of the congregation shouted, 'We won't be able to see or hear him'. At that instant the ground rose till everyone could see and hear David.
• St. David himself spoke an old form of Welsh fourteen centuries ago, and the Saint has become synonymous with keeping the language alive, and all that is good in the Welsh way of life. Welsh is the oldest living European language, and although it has been oppressed for centuries, it has refused to die and is alive and growing today. The Welsh medium schools, which have largely been set up during the past three decades, have played an important part in making the language an everyday language as opposed to just an academic one.
• From time immemorial the Welsh have worn a leek on St. David's day, in memory of a battle against the Saxons, at which it is said they wore leeks in their hats, by St. David's advice, to distinguish them from their enemies.

It is claimed that Dewi lived for over 100 years, and it is generally accepted that he died in 589. His last words to his followers were in a sermon on the previous Sunday. Rhigyfarch transcribes these as 'Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us.' 'Do the little things' ('Gwnewch y pethau bychain') is today a very well-known phrase in Welsh, and has proved an inspiration to many. On a Tuesday, the first of March, in the year 589, the monastery is said to have been 'filled with angels as Christ received his soul'.

David's body was buried in the grounds of his own monastery, where the Cathedral of St. David now stands.

At a meeting of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales in 1939 it was suggested that a flag should be made by reversing the colours of the armorial banner of the see of St David. The armorial banner of the arms of St David's would be a black flag with a yellow cross bearing five black cinquefoils. The reverse of this would of course be a yellow flag with a black cross and yellow cinquefoils. Why it was felt that the colours should be reversed was not explained. It was soon suggested that the cinquefoils should be omitted, to create a flag to be known as the Cross of St David. (from Flags of the World http://www.fotw.net)

St David's Day, as celebrated today, dates back to 1120 when David was canonized by Pope Callistus II, and March 1st was included in the Church calendar.