Happy St. David's Day: I have written enough about this revered saint of Wales and his stories. Wandered around the ruined chapel where he was born to St. Non, so here are a couple of blogs on our hero. Here and here. Also a quote from Jan Morris's - The Matter of Wales.
"The holiest Welsh place is Dewisland, Pebidog, a stony protrusion from the coast of Dyfed, which was once a spiritual hub of the whole Celtic world. Not only does the countryside there seem holy by its very nature, so ascetic but so exciting, all bare rock and heather headland falling to the wild Atlantic sea, but its associations too are intensely sanctified. Here the Celtic missionaries came and went, on their journeys through the western seas, and here the itinerant Irish preachers landed on their way to evangelize a pagan Europe. Everywhere there are the remains of shrines and chapels, - neither the Welsh nor the Normans ever fortified the peninsula, in respect for its sacred meaning; and in the middle of it stands the most venerated structure of all, the cathedral of Dewi Sant, St.David, not only the mother church of Welsh Christianity, but the vortex of all that is holy in Wales".
In the first blog I make mention of the Clegyr Boai story and I will see if there is more history on this pagan rogue. But whilst seeking his lair, and it does exist, I came across this fine fellow. No I did not seek him out!
That's quite a claim.
ReplyDeleteWell I will never know if he had the healing touch now!
DeleteJan Morris makes it sound as though we are all floating around in some sort of spiritual mist.
ReplyDeleteShe loved Wales so perhaps she went overboard on her prose.;)
DeleteIf he ever comes out of his hidy hole hide in a bush and take a photograph. Bet he has long hair and a long beard. Happy St David's Day to you too.
ReplyDeleteAll those hippies are getting old Pat, quite a few round here.
DeleteAnnoying - the library don't have that Jan Morris book.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I have it anymore, but it was a good history of Wales Sue.
DeleteIf people are camping throughout winter in Wales, as the sign seems to suggest, then they well need the services of Mr William Lewis. I got wet enough doing the Pembrokeshire Coast Path in mid-summer.
ReplyDeleteYes rain and Wales go together John. I think Mr. William Lewis is probably with his Dewi Sant by now the photograph is old.
ReplyDeleteWith powers like that he could surely live forever!
DeleteI have beautiful picture of Clegyr Boia on my study wall, it was painted by David Tress
ReplyDeleteJust looked it up on the net. Indeed beautiful and very dramatic. Rev. Sabine Baring Gould wrote a chapter on Clegyr Boai, the link is here..... http://archive.org/details/archaeologiacam65assogoog/page/n9/mode/1up?view=theater It will add its story to your painting.
DeleteI think William Lewis believes in himself, that's for sure!
ReplyDelete