St
Cadfan's Church (Welsh: Eglwys Cadfan), Tywyn in the
county of Gwynedd,
formerly Merionethshire, Wales.
Saint Cadfan de
Galles
VIe siècle
Abbé de Bardsey Island
(Galles)
Fête le 1er novembre
Autres graphies :
Cadfan de Galles, Catamanu ou Catman
Autres formes :
Catamanus (forme latine) et Gideon (forme anglaise)
Probablement originaire
de Bretagne, Cadfan émigra au Pays de Galles et fonda plusieurs monastères,
dont Tywyn (Towyn
dans le Merionethshire, sur la côte galloise) et peut-être celui de Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli), où
il fut le premier abbé. Il décéda probablement à Bardsey au début du VIe
siècle. Llangadfan dans le Montgomeryshire est nommé d’après son nom, ainsi que
Pistyll Gadfan, Llwbyr Gadfan et Eisteddfa Gadfa.
Cadfan of Wales, Abbot
(AC)
(also known as Catamanu,
Catman)
Died probably at Bardsey
in the early 6th century. A missionary from Letavia (probably in Brittany but
possibly in southeastern Wales) to Wales, Cadfan founded monasteries at Towyn
in Merionethshire and Llangadfan in Montgomeryshire, and later a monastic
center on the island of Bardsey (Ynys Enlli), where he was first abbot. Bardsey
developed into a great center of monasticism. It is said that as he went from
Towyn to Llangadfan he passed through Pistyll Gadfan, Eisteddfa Gadfa, and
Llwbyr Gadfan.
His holy well could be
found in the churchyard at Towyn, near his chapel (since destroyed), where many
were cured of rheumatism, scrofula, and skin diseases. It continued to attract
pilgrims long after the Reformation. Baths and changing-rooms were added until
it went into disuse about 1894.
In the church at Towyn,
there is a stone pillar, called the Cadfan stone, with an ancient inscription
that marks the place of his burial:
"Beneath a similar
mound lies Cadfan, sad it should enclose the praise of the earth. May he rest
without blemish."
A Cadfan also has an
active cultus in Finistère and Côtes du Nord, Brittany. While it is generally
held that this is the same Cadfan (the reason for thinking that he was a
Breton), there are still problems in making the connection between the two. The
question may never be settled. The Breton Cadfan is the patron of a church at
Poullan, near Douarnenez. There is an extant statue of him in military garb at
Briec (Benedictines, Delaney, Farmer).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1101.shtml
Saint Cadfan, Abbot
Reposed 590
Remembered
November 1
St Cadfan came from
Brittany with several companions and founded a monastery at Tywyn, modern
Towyn, in Gwynedd. There is a stone dating from the 8 or 9C in the church
inscribed with his name which may have indicated his grave. There is also a
holy well. He later moved further up the coast to the Lleyn peninsula and to
Bardsey Island though he may not have been the first. It is likely he was
buried there. Bardsey is a popular place of pilgrimage.
SOURCE : http://www.synaxarion.org.uk/02WelshSaints/Cadfan/Cadfan.html
St. Cadfan, Abbot of Towyn & Bardsey
(c. AD 530-c. AD 590)
(Latin: Catamanus; English: Gideon)
St. Cadfan was a Breton
nobleman, the son of Eneas Ledewig (the Breton) and Princess Gwen Teirbron (the
Triple-Breasted). As a young man, he was drawn to a life in the church,
probably through the influence of his elder half-brother, St. Winwaloe. He
founded places of worship in Finistere and the Cotes du Nord before leading a
large band of missionaries to Western Wales with his cousin, St. Tydecho, and
friend, St. Cynllo. His companions are said to have included: SS. Cynan,
Dochdwy, Mael, Sulien, Tanwg, Eithras, Llywen, Llyfab, Tegwyn, Padarn, Trunio
and Maelrys.
In Wales, Cadfan founded
a renowned monastery at Towyn in Meirionydd, but later moved on to the
seclusion of Ynys Enlli (Bardsey).
The monastery he established on the island became a Mecca for holymen and
royalty alike; and it is said that, not only his original followers, but some
20,000 further saints were subsequently buried in the Abbey's graveyard.
Cadfan's confessor was
St. Hywyn who lived just across the water in Aberdaron. Cadfan died on 1st
November, sometime in the late 6th century. He was succeeded as Abbot of
Bardsey by St. Lleuddad who buried him in the Abbey Church there. Centuries
later, his body was translated to a more fitting shrine in Llandaff Cathedral.
Records of St. Cadfan
date back to the 6th century. He is generally considered historic.
SOURCE : http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/cadfansby.html
St. Cadfan of Wales, Abbot
(Catamanu, Catman)
1 November
Died probably at Bardsey
in the early 6th century. A missionary from Letavia (probably in Brittany but
possibly in south-eastern Wales) to Wales, Cadfan founded monasteries at Towyn
in Merionethshire and Llangadfan in Montgomeryshire, and later a monastic
centre on the island of Bardsey (Ynys Enlli), where he was first abbot. Bardsey
developed into a great centre of monasticism. It is said that as he went from
Towyn to Llangadfan he passed through Pistyll Gadfan, Eisteddfa Gadfa, and
Llwbyr Gadfan.
Bardsey Island is still a wild, isolated place - exactly the kind of spot to
which the Celtic monks liked to retreat. The first monastery here was founded
by St Cadfan in 429. Today's remains are 13th century and are of the
Augustinian abbey of St Mary, built on the site of the original monastery. In
time Bardsey became one of the most popular places of pilgrimage in Britain and
many went there to be buried so as to be close to the numerous ascetic saints
who died there. In time it became known as "The Island of 20,000
Saints." Human bones were so common that they were used to mend fences!
Cadfan's holy well could be found in the churchyard at Towyn, near his chapel
(since destroyed), where many were cured of rheumatism, scrofula, and skin
diseases. It continued to attract pilgrims long after the Reformation. Baths
and changing-rooms were added until it went into disuse about 1894.
In the church at Towyn, there is a stone pillar, called the Cadfan stone, with
an ancient inscription that marks the place of his burial:
"Beneath a similar mound lies Cadfan,
sad it should enclose the praise of the earth.
May he rest without blemish."
A Cadfan also has an active cultus in Finistere and Cotes du Nord, Brittany.
While it is generally held that this is the same Cadfan (the reason for
thinking that he was a Breton), there are still problems in making the
connection between the two. The question may never be settled. The Breton
Cadfan is the patron of a church at Poullan, near Douarnenez. (Benedictines, Delaney, Farmer).
Troparion of St Cadfa
in Tone 8
Leaving thy native Brittany for the love of Christ, O Father Cadfan,
thou dost teach us not to love places or things more than Him.
Wherefore, O holy one, intercede for us that we may be faithful to our calling
and found worthy of great mercy
Information and photographs of Bardsey Island:
http://freespace.virgin.net/well.springs/Wellspring_of_Pilgrimage/bardsey.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20001207171600/http://www.ccw.gov.uk/register/english/level2/bardsey.htm
TINY Url
http://tinyurl.com/633clg
http://www.britannia.com/wales/sacred/sac14.html
SOURCE : https://celticsaints.org/2016/1101a.html
San Cadfano Abate
in Inghilterra
VI sec.
San Cadfan è stato un abate britannico.
Sembra sia nato nel Galles verso la fine del V secolo. Era figlio di Enea Ledewig, nobile britannico, e di Gwen Teirbron, figlia di Budic II, re di Britannia.
Alcuni studiosi indicano il 530 come anno della sua nascita, mentre altri studiosi riferiscono della sua fondazione nel 516 di un monastero nella Bardsey Island, nel nord del Galles, del quale sarebbe stato abate fino al 542. E’ evidente che quest’ultime ipotesi non permetterebbero di fissarne la data di nascita nel VI secolo.
Su san Cadfan non sappiamo altro. Alcuni indicano la data della sua morte intorno al 590, ma anche questa data contrasterrebbe con la sua eventuale nascita nel V secolo.
È patrono di Llangadfan e di Powys nel nord, dove si ritiene abbia fondato una
chiesa.
La sua festa ricorre nel giorno 1 novembre.
Autore: Mauro Bonato
