St. Cybi (Cuby, Keby) of Caenarvon, Abbot Bishop
8 November
6th century. Cuby is one of the few saints of Cornwall who seems to
have been born there. He may have been the son of
Saint Selevan (Levan; f.d. June 8)
and cousin of
Saint David of Wales (f.d. March 1).
Consecrated a bishop, he settled with ten disciples near Tregony.
Place names suggest he was an energetic missionary monk, who visited
southeast Wales and made his way by sea up the west coast to Anglesey.
Here the prince Maelgwn Gwynedd is said to have given him a ruined Roman
fort for his headquarters, where the town of Holyhead now stands; it is
still known in Welsh as Caer Gybi, Cybi's fort. He is the patron
saint of Llangibbi (Monmouth) and of Llangybi (Carnarvon).
The existing Life of the saint dates only from the 13th century, and
takes him on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem as well as narrating a long stay
with
Saint Enda (f.d. March 21)
on Aranmore.
We are told that he was accompanied on Aran by an aged kinsman name
Cungar (f.d. November 7),
an elusive saint whose name is found in Wales,
Brittany, and Somerset (Congresbury). Matthew Arnold in his poem "East
and West" narrates--but misunderstands--an Anglesey legend about Saint
Cybi
(Attwater,
Benedictines).
Troparion of St Cuby
Tone 1
By thy journeyings, O Hierarch Cuby,
thou dost teach us the virtue of making pilgrimages.
Wherefore, O Prince of Ascetics and all-praised Wonderworker,
we entreat thee to intercede for us
that Christ our God
will not find our lives to be utterly worthless and will show us great
mercy.
Lives kindly supplied by:
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content © 2008, Ambrose Mooney
layout © 2008, Kathleen Hanrahan and Mo! Langdon
Page last updated: 01 November 2008
Please send us comments, corrections, etc. -
Kathleen or
Mo!.
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