Teilo, St

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Teilo, St (6th cent.). Teilo is associated in Welsh triads with SS David and Cadoc as one of the Three Blessed Visitors to the Isle of Britain. Twelfth-cent. sources claim Teilo was born near Penally (Pembrokeshire), studied first under Dubricius, then with a Paulinus (St Pol). There he met St David, whom he allegedly accompanied on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Crossing to escape the plague, he spent some years in Brittany, staying with Samson of Dol. His ministry was centred, however, on his monastery at Llandeilo Fawr, where he eventually died. Though his name is associated with Llandaff cathedral, the Book of Llandaff's claim that he succeeded Dubricius in the see is insubstantial. The most fantastic story relates to his death, when priests from Llandaff, Llandeilo Fawr, and Penally argued over possession of his body. During the night, it miraculously became three, resolving the dispute.

Audrey MacDonald

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