A Saint from Wales

You might not have heard of today's saint (I know I had not until now.) but he was a very important bishop of his day.

St. Teilo of Wales

Feast day: February 9
Birth: 500
Death: 560
Penalun

Teilo (also known by his Cornish name Eliud) had great inspiration for his faith journey in his family of saints (father, St. Issel; and uncles, Sts. Ismael and Euddogwy).  In some accounts, he is of a royal family who claims another saint in their ancestry (St. David).  To further his faith, Teilo was also educated by saints.

Along with companions, he went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  Upon his return, Teilo succeeded the previous bishop who retired to a hermitage. Teilo founded the first church in Llandaff, headed a monastic school, and become bishop over Glywysing & Gwent.

In the 540s yellow plague affected Britain, so Teilo, with a small group of monks, moved to Brittany.  He stayed in Brittany for seven years and seven months.  During this time, Teilo and his followers are said to have planted three miles of fruit trees.  To this day the fruit groves they planted are known as the groves of Teilo and Samson.

A funny legend has it that Teilo was asked to subdue a belligerent winged dragon, which he tamed and tied to a rock in the sea off Brittany.

After his return to Llandaff, he continued to serve the community for several years before his death around 560.