Previous Saint This month Next Saint
[Yesterday's last saint] [back to Calendar] [Today's next saint]

Died c. 500. Gundleus (Latin for Gwynllyw, which is anglicised as Woolo) was a Welsh chieftain. Although he was the eldest, when his father died, Gundleus divided his inheritance among his six brothers. According to legend, he desired to marry Gwladys (f.d. today), daughter of Saint Brychan of Brecknock (f.d. April 6). When Brychan refused his daughter's hand, Gundleus kidnapped and married her. (One aspect of the legend has King Arthur helping to defeat the pursuing Brychan and being dissuaded from capturing Gwladys for himself by two of his knights.)

Nevertheless, Gundleus and Gwladys led a riotous life, engaging in violence and banditry until their first son, Saint Cadoc (f.d. September 25), convinced them to adopt and follow a religious life together at Stow Hill near Newport (Gwent), Monmouthshire. Later he had them separate and live as hermits.

Gundleus spent his last years completely retired from the world in a solitary little dwelling near a church which he had built. He wore sackcloth, ate barley-bread strewn with ashes, and drank water. To constant prayer and contemplation he added the work of his hands. On his deathbed, Gundleus was visited by Saint Dyfrig (f.d. November 14) and his own son Cadoc, who provided him with the Last Rites of the Church. There is a church dedicated to him at Newport (Attwater2, Benedictines, Delaney, Farmer, Husenbeth).

Icon of St. Gwynllyw
http://www.odox.net/A-gwynll.jpg

Troparion of St Gladys and St Gwynllyn
Tone 5
Rejoice, thrice-blessed Gladys,
daughter of King Brychan,
wife of holy Gwynllyn and mother of Saint Cadoc.
O worthy Gwynllyn,
thou didst forsake thy pagan warfare to fight as a Christian ascetic
and didst end thy days as a hermit.
We praise you, Gladys and Gwynllyn.



Previous Saint This month Next Saint
[Yesterday's last saint] [back to Calendar] [Today's next saint]