Main Feast is 14 November
Born at Madley (?), near Hereford; died c. 545. Saint Dyfrig was an
important church leader, probably a monk, in southeast Wales and western
Herefordshire. His earliest foundation was Ariconium (Archenfield,
Hereford), but his most important centres were at Hentland (Henllan) and
Moccas in the Wye valley. Dyfrig attracted numerous disciples to the two
monasteries, and from them founded many other monasteries and churches.
He was associated with Saint Illtyd and, according to the 7th-century
vita of Saint Samson, with the island of Caldey for whose monastery he
appointed
Saint Samson (f.d. July 28)
abbot. Later he consecrated Samson
bishop. An ancient, but incomplete, inscription at Caldey reads Magl
Dubr ("the tonsured servant of Dubricius").
Dyfrig and Saint Deinol (Daniel) were the two prelates who convinced
Saint David to attend the synod of Brefi. Dyfrig spent the last years of
his life at Ynys Enlli (Bardsey) and died there.
In later medieval legends he becomes the 'archbishop of Caerleon'
(Caerlon-on-Usk) and, according to the unreliable Geoffrey of Monmouth,
crowns 'King' Arthur at Colchester (he is the high saint of Idylls of a
King), and the ecclesiastical politics of the 12th century claimed him
as founder of the Normans' see of Llandaff, where he was one of the four
titular saints of the cathedral.
The later vita written by Benedict of Gloucester claims that Dyfrig was
a disciple of Saint Germanus of Auxerre, but this is unlikely. Legend
also states that Saint David resigned in his favour as metropolitan of
Wales.
The relics of Saint Dyfrig were translated from Bardsey to Llandaff in
1120. He is the 'Dubric the high saint, Chief of the church in Britain'
of Tennyson's Coming of Arthur, and the place-name Saint Devereux in
Herefordshire is a corruption of the saint's name.
Church dedications to him at Gwenddwr (Powys) and Porlock (Somerset)
suggest that his disciples were active in the expansion of Christianity
to the west and southwest, possibly in association with the
multitudinous children Saint Brychan of Brecknock
(
Attwater,
Benedictines,
Doble,
Delaney,
Farmer).
In art Saint Dubricius is depicted holding two crosiers and an
archiepiscopal cross. He is venerated in Herefordshire, Monmouthshire,
and Caldey Island
(
Roeder).
Troparion of St Dyfrig tone 1
Thou art worthily honoured as the Father of Welsh Monasticism. O
Hierarch Dyfrig,/ labouring to establish true asceticism with thy
brother in the Faith, Samson of Dol/ whom thou didst raise to the
dignity of the episcopate./ In thy pastoral love, O Saint,/ pray for us
that despite our unspiritual lives/ Christ our God will grant us great
mercy.
Another Life and Stained Glass Window of Saint Dubricius
http://www.geocities.com/~dubricius/dubricbg.html
Saint Dubricius Home Page
Interesting papers on mainly Welsh themes
http://www.geocities.com/~dubricius/