Saint
Teilo (Latin: Teliaus; also
Eliud) was a leader of the
Celtic ChristianCeltic Christianity or Insular Christianity is a term referring broadly to the Early Medieval Christian practice that developed in Britain and Ireland before and during the sub-Roman period. During this period, the Roman withdrawal and the Anglo-Saxon invasion sharply reduced contact between the...
church in
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
during the 6th century. His exact dates of birth and death are unknown but
PenallyPenally is a coastal village near Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The village is known for it's Celtic Cross, Penally Abbey, with neighbouring St.Deiniol's Well, and Penally Training Camp .Served by Penally railway station Penally is a coastal village near Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The...
in
PembrokeshirePembrokeshire is a county in the southwest of Wales.-Geography:Pembrokeshire is a maritime county, bordered by the sea on three sides, by Ceredigion to the north east and by Carmarthenshire to the east...
is considered his birthplace.
He was the son of Prince Ensig ap Hydwn ap
CeredigCeredig, king of Ceredigion, may have been born c. 420 AD in the Brythonic kingdom of Manaw Gododdin , centred on the Firth of Forth in the area known as Yr Hen Ogledd.Little is known of him...
of
CeredigionCeredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. In extent it is more or less identical to the historic county of Cardiganshire, and it was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later.- Geography :...
, and a contemporary of his father's cousin,
Saint DavidSaint David was a church official; he was later regarded as a saint and as the patron saint of Wales. In contrast with the other national patron saints of the British Isles, Saints George, Andrew and Patrick, David is a native of the country of which he is patron saint, and a relatively large...
, with whom he is said to have travelled to
JerusalemJerusalem is the capital of Israel and its largest city in both population and area, with a population of 747,600 residents over an area of if disputed East Jerusalem is included...
on
pilgrimageIn religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a shrine of importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Members of many major religions participate in pilgrimages...
. Teilo is believed to have been both the
Bishop of LlandeiloThe Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.-Area of authority:The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , in the village of Llandaff, just north-west of the City of...
and
of St David'sthumb|right|98px|Coat of arms of St David'sThe bishop of Saint David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding...
. His head resides at
Llandaff CathedralLlandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, situated in the suburb of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales...
after being kept for centuries on a farm at
MaenclochogMaenclochog is a small village in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales. It lies at the south of the Preseli Hills, about one mile southeast of the village of Rosebush.Researchers believe to have found the remains of a 13th Century castle at Maenclochog....
in
PembrokeshirePembrokeshire is a county in the southwest of Wales.-Geography:Pembrokeshire is a maritime county, bordered by the sea on three sides, by Ceredigion to the north east and by Carmarthenshire to the east...
. Bones found in St. David's Cathedral during restoration work at the turn of the 21st century were thought to be his, but scientific dating proved otherwise. Like most of the Welsh '
saintSaints, individuals of exceptional holiness, are significant in many religions, particularly Christianity.-General characteristics :Though the term is mostly used for Christians considered holy or virtuous, many religions use similar concepts to elevate people worthy of respect, e.g. see Hindu...
s' of this period, Teilo was a monastic leader, and founded a 'llan' or monastic settlement which gave its name to the town of
LlandeiloLlandeilo is a town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Tywi by the A483 on a 19th century stone bridge.The town is served by Llandeilo railway station on the Heart of Wales Line.- Early history :...
in
CarmarthenshireCarmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. Its three largest towns are Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford...
. Several other places bear his name, and he is also believed to have preached or taught in
BrittanyBrittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Brittany was previously a kingdom and then as a duchy it was a fief of the Kingdom of France. It was at one time called Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
. He is one of the
patron saintA patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, or person. Patron saints, because they have already transcended to the metaphysical, are able to intercede effectively for the needs of their special charges...
s of
Llandaff CathedralLlandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, situated in the suburb of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales...
, and is said to have founded the original monastery at there.
Saint HywelSaint Hywel was a little-known saint of the Celtic Christian church in Wales during the 6th century. His exact dates of birth and death are unknown but he is thought to have been a disciple of Saint Teilo, and to have been a missionary in what is now West Wales.A single church is dedicated to...
was one of Teilo's disciples.
His feast day is 9 February. A number of places named
LlandeiloLlandeilo is a town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Tywi by the A483 on a 19th century stone bridge.The town is served by Llandeilo railway station on the Heart of Wales Line.- Early history :...
in
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
are named after him.
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