- Brynach
Infobox Saint
name=Saint Brynach
birth_date=
death_date=6th century
feast_day=7 April
venerated_in=Roman Catholic Church ; Anglican Communion
imagesize=
caption=
birth_place=
death_place=Nevern ,Pembrokeshire
titles=Abbot
beatified_date=
beatified_place=
beatified_by=
canonized_date=
canonized_place=
canonized_by=
attributes=Monk or abbot with cuckoo and/or the Nevern Cross
patronage=Spring
major_shrine=Nevern ,Pembrokeshire
suppressed_date=
issues=
prayer=
prayer_attrib=Saint Brynach was a 6th century Welsh
saint . He is traditionally associated withPembrokeshire , where several churches are dedicated to him.A 12th century 'life' tells us that some time in the early 6th century, Brynach travelled (from where is unstated) to
Rome andBrittany , and then on toMilford Haven . He erected variousoratories near the rivers Cleddau, Gwaun, and Caman and at the foot ofMynydd Carningli (translated as 'Mountain of the Angels'), which was his most famous foundation. Thismonastery founded by Brynach was at present-dayNevern (in Welsh, "Nanhyfer"). The land was given to him by the local lord,Clether , who retired toCornwall . Brynach was harassed by King Maelgwn of Gwynedd for a while, until he wrought miracles and the two came to terms. Saint Brynach died on7 April , on which day his feast is celebrated. His church, overhanging the Nevern, is his lasting memorial. Details of Brynach's life seem to identify him with Saint Brannoc ofBraunton inDevon , although his feast day is [21 June] .The "Life of St Brynach" portrays him as something of a wild fellow in his youth but very virtuous after his conversion. The descriptions of his adventures (including amorous and ghostly encounters) display a degree of humour unusual in the writers of saintly lives.
Brynach may be a form of the Irish name, "Bernach". This has led to speculation that Saint Brynach came from
Ireland .Iolo Morganwg , followed by Baring-Gould, supposed that he is the same as the chieftain 'Fernach' who came toWales from Ireland with the youngBrychan ofBrycheiniog . However,Egerton Philimore rejects this identification. A 'Brennach Wyddel o'r Gogledd' or "Brennach the Irishman of the North [of Britain] " appears in theWelsh Triads .Rachel Bromwich does not believe Saint Brynach is meant and an Irish settler, perhaps fromGalloway orCumbria , is indicated.Dedications of churches to Brynach in Pembrokeshire include Nevern, Dinas,
Llanfyrnach ,Henry's Moat andPontfaen . In Carmarthenshire there areLlanboidy and a chapel inLlanddarog , and there are scattered dedications inGlamorgan ,Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire. The distribution of these is similar to that of Ogham stones in south Wales, and defines a distinct Irish-influenced province that existed in the Age of the Saints [E G Bowen, "Saints, Seaways and Settlements", UoW Press, 1977, ISBN 0 7083 0650 0, page 105] .References
*Sabine Baring-Gould & John Fisher. (1907). "Lives of the British Saints".
*Rachel Bromwich. (2006). "Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Triads of the Island of Britain". Third Edition.
*Egerton Philimore. (1906). "Notes" in George Owen's 'The Description of Pembrokeshire' (1603).
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.