Saint Afan
Encyclopedia
Saint Afan or Afan Buallt, was a Welsh
bishop
and saint
of the 6th century. According to tradition, Afan Buallt was the son of Cedig ap Ceredig
, son of Cunedda Wledig, king of Gwynedd
. One source gives his mother as Tegwedd, daughter of Tegid Foel of Penllyn, a legendary figure who is the mother of Taliesin in the tale of Ceridwen
and who is associated with Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake
). Afan was the founder of Llanafan Trawsgoed
in Ceredigion
. He was buried in Llanafan Fawr, where his purported tomb is found, inscribed "Hic Iacet Sanctus Avans Episcopus." He may have been the third bishop of Llanbadarn Fawr
, Ceredigion. He was a bishop in the Cantref of Buallt later incorporated into Breconshire
.
Through his father's line, he was a cousin of Saint David
, patron saint of Wales. One account gives him as an ancestor of a 10th-century bishop, Ieuan, who was killed by Viking
marauders. The church dedicated to him was once apparently a site of pilgrimages, and site of at least one miracle: the Anglo-Norman lord Philip de Braose
was hunting nearby and decided that the church was a suitable place for him and his dogs to spend the night. When he woke at sunrise, his dogs had gone mad and he was blind; his sight was only restored when he resolved to fight in the Crusades
.
The same story is recounted by Giraldus Cambrensis
in his Description of Wales (1188):
The narrative goes on to say that the nobleman never regained his sight, but fought in the Crusades blind, whereupon he was "immediately struck down by a blow from a sword and so ended his life with honour."
in The Lives of the British Saints (1907) states that he was the son of Cedig ap Ceredig ap Cunedda Wledig, and that his mother was a Saint Tegfedd or Tegwedd, the daughter of Tegid the Bald (Tegid Foel), Lord of Penllyn in Meirionnydd
, and that he lived in the early part of the 6th century. Afan is given the epithet Buellt, or Buallt, indicating a connection with a cantref of that name. Afan as a man's name is probably a loan from the Latin Amandus; it also occurs as a river name
.
of Builth
were dedicated to him, Llanafan Fawr and Llanafan Fechan, and another in the deanery of Llanbadarn Fawr
in Ceredigion
, called Llanafan-y-Trawsgoed. Some suppose that there was once a See of Llanafan Fawr and that Afan was its bishop, though this is improbable; the supposition arises from the inscription on Saint Afan's grave at Llanafan Fawr, which reads HIC IACET SANCTUS AVANUS EPISCOPUS ("Here lies Saint Avan, Bishop"). The letters are deeply cut in Lombardic script
, slightly ornamented, and on the top-stone of a plain oblong altar tomb in the churchyard. The tomb is not older than the end of the 13th or the 14th century.
The Demetian Calendar gives Saint Afan's festival as November 16, but other calendars, including the Welsh Prymers of 1618 and 1633 give the 17th.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
and saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of the 6th century. According to tradition, Afan Buallt was the son of Cedig ap Ceredig
Ceredig
Ceredig ap Cunedda, , king of Ceredigion, may have been born c. 420 AD in the Brythonic kingdom of Manaw Gododdin , centred on the Firth of Forth in the area known as Yr Hen Ogledd.Little is known of him...
, son of Cunedda Wledig, king of Gwynedd
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Gwynedd was one petty kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, and later evolved into a principality during the High Middle Ages. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the...
. One source gives his mother as Tegwedd, daughter of Tegid Foel of Penllyn, a legendary figure who is the mother of Taliesin in the tale of Ceridwen
Ceridwen
In Welsh medieval legend, Ceridwen , also spelled Cerridwen, was an enchantress, mother of Morfran and a beautiful daughter Creirwy. Her husband was Tegid Foel, and they lived near Bala Lake in north Wales...
and who is associated with Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake
Bala Lake
Bala Lake is a large lake in Gwynedd, Wales. It was the largest natural body of water in Wales prior to the level being raised by Thomas Telford to help support the flow of the Ellesmere Canal. It is long by wide, and is subject to sudden and dangerous floods. The River Dee runs through it and...
). Afan was the founder of Llanafan Trawsgoed
Trawsgoed
Trawsgoed Estate located eight miles east of Aberystwyth in Ceredigion, Wales has been in the possession of the Vaughan family since the year 1200...
in Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
. He was buried in Llanafan Fawr, where his purported tomb is found, inscribed "Hic Iacet Sanctus Avans Episcopus." He may have been the third bishop of Llanbadarn Fawr
Llanbadarn Fawr
Llanbadarn Fawr is an urbanised village and community in Ceredigion, Wales. It is located on the outskirts of Aberystwyth situated next to Penparcau and Southgate. It forms the eastern part of the continually built-up area of Aberystwyth...
, Ceredigion. He was a bishop in the Cantref of Buallt later incorporated into Breconshire
Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire , also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.-Geography:...
.
Through his father's line, he was a cousin of Saint David
Saint David
Saint David was a Welsh Bishop during the 6th century; he was later regarded as a saint and as the patron saint of Wales. David was a native of Wales, and a relatively large amount of information is known about his life. However, his birth date is still uncertain, as suggestions range from 462 to...
, patron saint of Wales. One account gives him as an ancestor of a 10th-century bishop, Ieuan, who was killed by Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
marauders. The church dedicated to him was once apparently a site of pilgrimages, and site of at least one miracle: the Anglo-Norman lord Philip de Braose
Philip de Braose
Philip de Braose, 2nd Lord of Bramber was an Anglo-Norman nobleman and Marcher Lord.-Early career:His father, William de Braose had participated in the victory at the Battle of Hastings in support of William the Conqueror. He had been rewarded with a barony and lands in Sussex and the Welsh Marches...
was hunting nearby and decided that the church was a suitable place for him and his dogs to spend the night. When he woke at sunrise, his dogs had gone mad and he was blind; his sight was only restored when he resolved to fight in the Crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
.
The same story is recounted by Giraldus Cambrensis
Giraldus Cambrensis
Gerald of Wales , also known as Gerallt Gymro in Welsh or Giraldus Cambrensis in Latin, archdeacon of Brecon, was a medieval clergyman and chronicler of his times...
in his Description of Wales (1188):
The narrative goes on to say that the nobleman never regained his sight, but fought in the Crusades blind, whereupon he was "immediately struck down by a blow from a sword and so ended his life with honour."
Hagiography
S. Baring-GouldSabine Baring-Gould
The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould was an English hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar. His bibliography consists of more than 1240 publications, though this list continues to grow. His family home, Lew Trenchard Manor near Okehampton, Devon, has been preserved as he had it...
in The Lives of the British Saints (1907) states that he was the son of Cedig ap Ceredig ap Cunedda Wledig, and that his mother was a Saint Tegfedd or Tegwedd, the daughter of Tegid the Bald (Tegid Foel), Lord of Penllyn in Meirionnydd
Meirionnydd
Meirionnydd is a coastal and mountainous region of Wales. It has been a kingdom, a cantref, a district and, as Merionethshire, a county.-Kingdom:...
, and that he lived in the early part of the 6th century. Afan is given the epithet Buellt, or Buallt, indicating a connection with a cantref of that name. Afan as a man's name is probably a loan from the Latin Amandus; it also occurs as a river name
River Afan
The River Afan is a river in southwest Wales whose river valley formed the territory of the medieval Lords of Afan. The town of Aberavon grew up on the banks of the river, and was later subsumed by the larger centre of population known as Port Talbot...
.
Death
Baring-Gould details that Afan was murdered by Irish pirates (or by Danes) on the banks of the River Chwefri, and that the tomb at Llanafan Fawr marks the site of his martyrdom. A source is quoted saying that "it is not improbable that he was the third Bishop of Llanbadarn; and his churches are situated in the district which may be assigned to that Diocese."Veneration
Two churches in the deaneryDeanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
of Builth
Builth Wells
Builth Wells is a town in the county of Powys, within the historic boundaries of Brecknockshire, mid Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Wye and the River Irfon, in the Welsh of the Wye Valley. It has a population of 2,352....
were dedicated to him, Llanafan Fawr and Llanafan Fechan, and another in the deanery of Llanbadarn Fawr
Llanbadarn Fawr
Llanbadarn Fawr is an urbanised village and community in Ceredigion, Wales. It is located on the outskirts of Aberystwyth situated next to Penparcau and Southgate. It forms the eastern part of the continually built-up area of Aberystwyth...
in Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, called Llanafan-y-Trawsgoed. Some suppose that there was once a See of Llanafan Fawr and that Afan was its bishop, though this is improbable; the supposition arises from the inscription on Saint Afan's grave at Llanafan Fawr, which reads HIC IACET SANCTUS AVANUS EPISCOPUS ("Here lies Saint Avan, Bishop"). The letters are deeply cut in Lombardic script
Beneventan script
Beneventan script was a medieval script, so called because it originated in the Duchy of Benevento in southern Italy. It was also called Langobarda, Longobarda, Longobardisca , or sometimes Gothica; it was first called Beneventan by palaeographer E. A...
, slightly ornamented, and on the top-stone of a plain oblong altar tomb in the churchyard. The tomb is not older than the end of the 13th or the 14th century.
The Demetian Calendar gives Saint Afan's festival as November 16, but other calendars, including the Welsh Prymers of 1618 and 1633 give the 17th.