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Sunday 14 September 2014

Saint David

Saint David was a Welsh bishop of Menevia during the 6th century. He was born near the present city of St Davids around 520 AD.

He founded a Celtic monastic community at Glyn Rhosyn (The Vale of Roses) in a remote and inhospitable part of south west Wales on the western headland of Pembrokeshire. St David's Cathedral stands today at the same spot. St David established many other monasteries churches throughout the country.

Stained glass chapel panel, of St David originally designed by William Burges 

According to the rules of the monastery he founded, monks pulled the plough themselves rather than use oxen.

Saint David was given the nickname ‘the water man’ as he only drank water, never ale or wine and he liked to stand in cold water to help him concentrate on God.

One of his best known legendary miracles occurred when preaching to a large crowd and the ground rose up to form a hill so all could see him.

The practical saint urged the Welsh warriors to wear leeks to distinguish themselves from their Saxon opponents in battle.

The date of Saint David's death is believed to be March 1, 589. His last words to the community of monks were: "Be steadfast brothers be ye constant. The yoke which with single mind ye have taken, bear ye to the end; and whatsoever ye have seen with me and heard, keep and fulfill."

Saint David's Day is the feast day of Saint David and falls on March 1st each year. The date was declared a national day of celebration within Wales in the 18th century.

Saint David's Day celebrations, Cardiff Bay, 2008. By Flickr user "Lilo Lil" 

St David’s in Pembrokeshire in the smallest city in the UK. Its population is only 1,841.  It gained city status in the 16th century, had it taken away in 1888, but it was restored in 2004.

Source Daily Express

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