St. Illtud was popular among the very ancient Celts, but there are few dependable sources about his life story.[3] The earliest mention of St. Illtud is in the Vita Sancti Sampsonis, written in Brittany, France, about 600 AD. According to this account, Illtud was the disciple of St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre, in north central France. It is not clear whether Illtud was a native of Brittany in France, or was born in Wales.
According to a rather untrustworthy later Life of St. Illtud, c. 1140, Illtud was the son of a Breton prince, and a cousin of King Arthur.[4] According to this Life, Illtud's parents intended him for service in the church and had him educated in literature for this purpose. However, he forsook his religious upbringing, choosing instead to pursue a military career. He took a wife named Trynihid, and became a soldier in Wales, in service first to King Arthur, and then to the King Poulentus. Because if this, he is sometimes called St. Illtud the Knight. One afternoon, he took a hunting party onto the lands Saint Cadog. The party sent a message to the abbot, demanding that the abbot feed them. The abbot deemed their demand to be very rude and improper, but graciously offered them a meal anyway. Before they could enjoy the meal, the ground opened up and swallowed the whole party as just punishment for their impiety. Only Illtud was spared, and he went to St. Cadog on his knees, begging forgiveness for his sinful act. The abbot told him to give up his selfish ways and go back to his religious upbringing.[4] Inspired, Illtud gave up his wife, and became a hermit in the Vale of Glamorgan (a matrimonial detail which, like many of his alleged miracles, may be regarded as fairly dubious).[3]
What is certain is that Illtud helped pioneer the monastic life if Wales by founding a monastery in what is now Llantwit Major. This became the first major Welsh monastic school, and was a hub of the Celtic Church in Sub-Roman Britain.[5] According to the St. Sampson biography, Illtud was the most accomplished of all the Britons, and was well versed in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as well as every type of philosophy, including geometry, rhetoric, grammar, and arithmetic.[5]
Illtud's own pupils are reckoned to have included seven sons of British princes and scholars such as St. Patrick, Paul Aurelian, Taliesin, Gildas and Samson of Dol. St. David is also believed to have spent some time there.[6][7][8]
Cult and Veneration
St. Illtud's feast day and commemoration is celebrated on the 6th of November.[9][10] According to legend, Illtud was buried west of the town of Brecon, in the church of Llanilltud (sometimes challed Capel Illtud), on a mountain known as Mynydd Illtud. Near this church, there is a megalithic monument called Bedd Gwyl Illtyd, or the "Grave of St. Illtud's Eve." Until comparatively recently, Illtud was honored by the practice of ‘watching’ (keeping vigil) at this stone before his festival.[11]
There is also a cross, probably of the ninth century, bearing the inscription: SAMSON POSUIT HANC CRUCEM PRO ANIMA EIUS ILITET SAMSON REGIS SAMUEL ERISAR - "Samson placed his Cross here for his soul, for the soul of Illtud, Samson, Rhain, Sawyl and Ebisar".[12]
There is no formal evidence for a cult of Illtyd surviving from before the 11th century. However, in Celtic countries it is the names of places that tell us most about the existence and veneration of the saints during the oldest times.[5] The town of Llanilltud Fawr (Llantwit Major in English) where Illtud's college is located is of course named for him (Welsh: llan church enclosure + Illtud + mawr great. Literally, Illtud's great church),[13] and was the chief centre of the cult of St Illtud.
In Glamorganshire many churches are dedicated to him, first and foremost St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major, which stands on what is believed to have been the site of the monastery. Many other places are dedicated to him is because they belonged to the Llantwit monastery.[14] Near to Llantwit itself are the villages of Llantrithyd, Llantwit Fardre, and Llantrisant and at Newcastle and Bridgend churches are dedicated to St Illtud.
Brecon in the north of Glamorgan and the Gower area were two more centres of his cult. Llantrisant's three saints were Illtud, Gwynno and Tyfodwg. In Merthyr Tudful there are holy wells of Gwynno and Illtud. West of Brecon, the church of Llanilltud is on a mountain known as Mynydd Illtud. Dedications in and around Gower include Ilston, formerly Llanilltud Gwyr, Oxwich, a holy well of S. Iltut in Llanrhidian, Llanilltud Fach, or Llantwit-juxta-Neath and Pen-bre, Carmarthenshire. In north Wales Illtud there is a Llanelltud near Dolgellau.
There are no dedications to St Illtud in Cornwall but many in Brittany though they are confined to the ancient dioceses of Leon, Treguier and Vannes.[14]
The Life tells of Illtyd's bell being recovered from King Edgar's armies and of Illtyd's protecting his people against the people of North Wales in the time of William the Conqueror.
Arthurian Connections
According to the 12th century Life of St. Illtud, Illtud's father was Bicanus, a minor Breton prince, and his mother was Rieingulid, a princess and daughter of Anblaud, king of Lesser Britannia (Brittany). He was alleged to be the cousin of the legendary King Arthur, and traveled from Brittany to serve Arthur as a young soldier.
One medieval Welsh document names Illtud, in his knightly days, as one of the triumvirate (the others were named Cadoc and Peredur) to whom King Arthur gave custody of the Holy Grail. On this basis, some scholars have tried to identify Knight Illtud with Sir Galahad.[3]
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/St_Illtyd_in_Holy_Trinity_Church%2C_Abergavenny.jpg/220px-St_Illtyd_in_Holy_Trinity_Church%2C_Abergavenny.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IlltudIltude the collector 475 – 525
The Abbot Illtude was known as the collector. While he collected many things including rocks and gemstones, he is known as the collector for collecting followers. Among the many who followed him were Gildas 500-570; Tudwall (490 - ; Samson 485 - 565; Patrick (415 – 493) and David 500-589; Paul Aurellian 490 –
Brieuc 407-502 and Malo
His birth and early days.
Not much is known of his early days. He was a gifted child, who learnt things very quickly. He also took the time to help those around him who were slower to learn. Among them was a child 2 years older than Iltude
The Collection of Gildas 508
Tudwall 505
The Collection of Samson (490)
The Encounter with Patrick (492)
Paul Aurellian 501
His Bell
Illtude would wander from town to town ringing his bell. All who heard it would rush to hear his sermons and learn from him. Some say the Bell was special as the Tone it rang out would calm the people and drive out evil thoughts.
Samson wrote of his master, and the records were kept at Dol
Fri May 02, 2014 4:46 pm