Sunday, 16 June 2013

Saint David

NAME Saint David (Dewi Sant in Welsh)

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Saint David is renowned as the patron saint of Wales, a significant religious figure in Welsh history, and the founder of Celtic monastic communities.

BIRTH Born circa 520 AD near the present-day city of St Davids in Pembrokeshire, Wales.  He was said to have been born during a tempestuous storm on a clifftop near St. Bride's Bay in Pembrokeshire.

FAMILY BACKGROUND His lineage was distinguished, tracing back to Welsh royalty. Saint David is believed to be the son of Sant (a prince of Ceredigion) and Non, a saintly woman who later became venerated in her own right. Notably, David was reportedly the grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda, the king of Ceredigion.

CHILDHOOD Little is documented about his childhood, but early accounts suggest he was raised in a devout Christian environment.

Even before his birth, David was believed to have performed miracles. When his mother, while pregnant, attended a church service, the preacher found himself unable to speak until she left, hinting at the child's future significance.

EDUCATION He studied under St. Paulinus at the Hen Fynyw monastery in Cardiganshire for at least 10 years, where he excelled in scripture and theology. His participation and eloquent address at the Synod of Brefi around 550 AD further demonstrate his substantial theological and rhetorical training.

CAREER RECORD Became a priest and later a bishop.

Founded multiple monasteries and churches across Wales including a monastery at Mynyw (Menevia), which later became St Davids. 

Led the Welsh Church and played a significant role in its development.

Attended the Synod of Brefi, an important gathering of Welsh church leaders.

APPEARANCE Though no contemporary images exist, later depictions show him as a tall, austere figure, often holding a dove or standing on a raised platform.

A stained glass window at St Non's Chapel, St David's by Llywelyn2000 

FASHION As a Christian priest and later archbishop, David's attire would have reflected his religious office. He likely wore a long tunic or robe reaching his ankles, possibly with a cloak or mantle for outdoor wear. His clothing would have been simple and unadorned, mirroring the ascetic lifestyle he embraced.

Common elements of 6th-century male dress suggest that David's everyday attire may have included a linen or wool undershirt with long sleeves, a woolen tunic reaching to the knees, and a belt at the waist perhaps adorned with a simple buckle. Trousers or breeches made of wool and leather shoes, possibly fastened with laces or toggles, would have completed his attire.

For warmth, he may have worn a rectangular cloak fastened at the shoulder, and a cap or hood for colder weather. Any jewelry would have been minimal, likely limited to a simple cross as a symbol of his Christian faith. Given his ascetic lifestyle, David's clothing would have emphasized modesty and functionality rather than luxury or ornamentation. The materials used would likely have been locally sourced wool and linen, dyed with natural pigments like woad for blue or madder for red.

CHARACTER He was a deeply spiritual, practical, and compassionate man, committed to serving both God and the people of Wales.

SPEAKING VOICE His sermons were described as powerful and inspiring, capable of moving large crowds.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Though known for his piety, some stories reflect his gentle wit, particularly in his guidance to monks on balancing labor with devotion.

RELATIONSHIPS Saint David lived a celibate life and dedicated himself to God and the monastic community. He had a close relationship with his mother, Saint Non.

MONEY AND FAME David eschewed wealth and status, living a life of extreme simplicity and focused on spiritual matters and serving the needs of others. He urged others to do the same.

 A depiction of Saint David, highlighting his monastic lifestyle and connection to simplicity

FOOD AND DRINK David was known for his strict monastic lifestyle, which included a simple diet of bread, salt, herbs and water (earning him the nickname "David the Water Drinker" or "Dewi Ddyfrwr" in Welsh). Meat and beer were forbidden in his monastic community.

MUSIC AND ARTS As the founder of a monastery, David likely encouraged some form of liturgical chanting or singing as part of religious services, which was common in early Christian monastic communities. However, his austere lifestyle suggests that any music would have been simple and focused on worship rather than entertainment.

Saint David's legacy has had a significant impact on Welsh musical traditions:

The St David's Cathedral, built on the site of his original monastery, has been an important center for religious music for centuries. It currently has a renowned cathedral choir and hosts an annual music festival.

Many Welsh hymns and choral works have been inspired by Saint David's life and teachings.

The celebration of St David's Day on March 1st has become an occasion for musical performances and festivals throughout Wales. 

LITERATURE David wrote a strict monastic rule for his community, inspired by Egyptian monasticism. While this rule was influential, it does not appear to have survived as a written text attributed directly to David.

His teachings were passed down orally. The earliest known written account of Saint David's life was composed around 1095 by Rhygyfarch, son of Bishop Sulien, nearly 500 years after David's death. This Life of St David became the primary source for much of what we know about the saint, though it likely includes a mix of historical fact and legend.

NATURE David revered nature and encouraged sustainable practices like manual ploughing without oxen.

During a sermon at Llanddewi Brefi, David is said to have caused a hill to rise up beneath him so that he could address the large crowd. A white dove reportedly landed on his shoulder during this sermon, symbolizing divine favor. He is also said to have struck his staff into dry ground, causing a spring to burst forth.

He is also credited with introducing honeybees to Ireland through a blessing that allowed them to follow a monk named Modomnoc.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS His focus was on prayer and manual labor rather than recreation.

SCIENCE AND MATHS While not a scientist or mathematician in the modern sense, his emphasis on observation and understanding the natural world reflects a connection to early forms of scientific inquiry. His understanding of natural cycles likely supported agricultural innovations within his monasteries.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Saint David's philosophy and theology were deeply rooted in asceticism and monastic discipline, reflecting the austere Christian practices of the 6th century. David embraced a life of extreme simplicity, adhering to a strict diet of bread, vegetables, and water. He encouraged his followers to abstain from meat and beer as a form of penance.

David established a rigorous monastic rule for his community. Monks were required to till the fields themselves without the use of animals, and personal possessions were strictly forbidden; even saying "my book" was considered an offense. Evenings were dedicated to prayer, reading, and writing. The daily routine began at dawn with prayer, followed by work in the monastery and fields.

David was known for his orthodox Christian beliefs. He spoke out against Pelagianism, a heretical doctrine that emphasized human free will over divine grace. At the Synod of Brefi, he eloquently defended the orthodox position against Pelagian teachings.

David's spiritual philosophy emphasized the importance of "doing the little things" in God's presence with conscientiousness and devotion, maintaining joy while keeping faith and creed, and focusing on relationships and working diligently at what is within one's reach.

Saint David is renowned for numerous miraculous acts throughout his life. These miracles played a significant role in establishing his reputation as a holy man and ultimately led to his canonization.

These include miracles of protection. When faced with poisoned bread, David either blessed it and ate it unharmed or, in another version, divided it into three parts. A dog and a crow died after eating the first two parts, while David safely consumed the blessed third part.

Furthermore, David allegedly sent St. Scuthyn across the sea on the back of a sea monster to warn him of a poisoning plot. 

These miraculous deeds, combined with his austere lifestyle and profound teachings, solidified Saint David's reputation as a holy man and ultimately led to his canonization as the patron saint of Wales.

POLITICS David supported Welsh independence and unity, encouraging warriors to wear leeks in battle to distinguish themselves from their Saxon foes.

SCANDAL No known scandals are associated with Saint David; his life is celebrated for its piety and moral integrity.

MILITARY RECORD While not a soldier, David’s counsel in wearing leeks for identification played a symbolic role in Welsh military success.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS His ascetic lifestyle likely contributed to his reputed vigor and longevity.

Among the most notable miracles attributed to him are healing miracles. David is said to have restored sight to a blind man and to have cured the blindness of his teacher, St. Paulinus, both through the sign of the cross. He also cleansed deadly water at Bath, transforming it into a warm, healing pool.

David is credited with several resurrection miracles, including bringing a dead child back to life by splashing water on the child's face.

HOMES As a young man, David received his religious education at Whitland monastery in Carmarthenshire, where he was taught by St Paulinus of Wales. This period of study would have shaped his future as a religious leader and teacher.

Around 550 AD, David founded his most famous and enduring home - a monastery near his birthplace, which became the site of the present-day St Davids Cathedral. This monastery was established in what was then known as Mynyw (Menevia). The settlement that grew around it came to be called Tyddewi, meaning "David's House" in Welsh.

The monastery David founded became a center of religious life and pilgrimage. Over time, it evolved into the grand St Davids Cathedral and Bishop's Palace complex we see today.

Saint David at his monastery in Mynyw (Menevia), later known as St Davids

TRAVEL He traveled extensively across Wales and possibly to Brittany, founding monasteries and spreading Christianity.

DEATH Saint David died on March 1st, most likely in the year 589, although some sources suggest it may have been 601. His passing was marked by several notable events. The date of his death, March 1st, is now celebrated as Saint David's Day. According to tradition, the monastery was "filled with angels as Christ received his soul" at the moment of his death. David's final words to his followers were derived from a sermon he delivered on the previous Sunday: "Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do."

Following his death, David was buried within the grounds of his own monastery, now the site of St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire. The exact location of his original burial site within the monastery remains uncertain. However, his shrine quickly became a popular destination for pilgrims throughout the Middle Ages.

The early shrine was destroyed by fire in 645 but was consistently renewed and rebuilt. Vikings repeatedly raided the shrine, removing valuable metal adornments. In 1275, a new shrine was constructed, with the ruined base still visible today. The medieval shrine housed relics believed to be David's body, kept within a portable casket on the stone base. These relics are now lost, possibly dispersed during the Reformation when Bishop Barlow reported seizing silver-plated reliquaries containing skulls and bones.

David's burial site evolved into a significant pilgrimage destination. Pope Callixtus II decreed that two pilgrimages to St David's Cathedral were equivalent to one visit to Rome. The shrine attracted thousands of pilgrims seeking healing, help, or forgiveness. Even after the Reformation, pilgrims continued to visit the site, albeit in smaller numbers. Today, while the original relics are lost, St David's Cathedral continues to honor his memory with a restored shrine and remains an important site for both religious pilgrims and those interested in Welsh Christian heritage.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Saint David appears in hagiographies, Welsh folklore, and numerous artistic depictions. Hymns such as “Dewi Sant” (Saint David in Welsh) are sung in churches during his feast day. His legacy is celebrated annually on Saint David’s Day.

ACHIEVEMENTS David’s establishment of monastic communities, promotion of Christian teachings, and enduring cultural legacy have made him an icon of Welsh heritage. St Davids in Pembrokeshire, named in his honor, is the smallest city in the UK. 

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