Illtud

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Saint Illtud
Born 5th century
Armorica
Honored in Wales
Feast 6 November

Illtud (also spelled Illtyd and, in corrupt English, Eltut, and, in Latin, Hildutus) was the Welsh founder-abbot and teacher of Llanilltud Fawr (Llantwit Major) in the Welsh county of Glamorgan, where he is said to have re-established the monastery school known as Cor Tewdws around the beginning of the sixth century. With the assistance of Meirchon, a local chieftain, it became a centre of learning, one of the three great monastic schools in the Diocese of Llandaff. He flourished in the latter part of the fifth and beginning of the sixth century.[1] In Glamorganshire many churches were dedicated to him. Some Breton churches and villages bear his name.

Life

Although the earliest Life of Illtud, which is full of implausible legends, was written about 1140, lives of Gildas, Samson, and Maglorius perhaps recorded as early as 600[2] give us better information.

Born in Armorica, he appears to have been married and to have had a military background - his Life makes his father, a minor Breton prince named Bican Farchog, Arthur's uncle on his mother's side.[3] His mother is said to have been Rieniguilida, sister of Emyr Llydaw. Samson’s biographer remarks that Illtud “by birth was a most wise magician, having knowledge of the future.” This may mean a family of bards or druids — Patrick Thomas comments that "The reference to Illtud’s hereditary prophetic powers suggests that he was a man well versed in traditional Welsh culture".[4] The 7th century 'Life of Saint Samson' claims that Illtud was a disciple of Germanus of Auxerre, though this does not necessarily mean that he was taught by him directly, and other sources make him Germanus' grandnephew.[1]

In a late Life[1] Illtud begins his career by crossing to Britain as a skilled warrior serving Arthur in the defence of Britain. Illtud's warband raids Llancarfan Abbey but the monks pursue them into a bog where the earth swallows all of them except Illtyd. Cadoc reminds Illtud of his religion, and the humbled warrior takes up the monastic life He is supposed to have been ordained by Dubricius.

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 believed to have spent some time there.[5][6][7] Illtud was well-versed in the Bible, according to the Life of Samson, but philosophy and/or science, geometry, rhetoric, grammar and arithmetic were also taught.[8]

The legendary place of his burial, close by the chapel dedicated to him in Brecknockshire, is called Bedd Gwyl Illtyd, or the "Grave of St. Illtud's Eve", the old custom of having been to keep vigil there on the eve of his feast, which was celebrated 7 February. There is still to be seen in the Galilee Chapel at Llantwit Major church[9] 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".

Veneration

There is no formal evidence for a cult of Illtyd surviving from before the 11th century. However his monastery, reputed to contain hundreds of monks, was one of the most influential in Southern Wales, and many churches in Wales are dedicated to him around St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major, which stands on what is believed to have been the site of the monastery. Many places in Wales are dedicated to him is because they belonged to Llantwit.[10]

Near to Llantwit itself, Llantrithyd, Llanhari and Newcastle, Bridgend churches are dedicated to St Illtud. But Brecon with the north of Glamorgan and the Gower area are 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.[10]

In the 2004 edition of the Roman Martyrology, Illtud is listed under 6 November with the Latin name Iltúti. He is mentioned as follows: 'In the monastery at Llanilltud Fawr named after him, St Illtud, Abbot, who founded the monastery; the reputation of his sanctity and his exceptional teaching gathered many disciples'.[11] In the current Roman Catholic liturgical calendar for Wales,[12] he continues to be commemorated on the traditional date of November 6. 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.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rudge, F.M. (1910). St. Illtyd. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved September 1, 2012
  2. ↑ "Acta SS. Ordinis S. Benedicti", Venice, 1733, quoted Rudge, F.M. (1910). St. Illtyd. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved September 1, 2012
  3. ↑ Goodrich, Norma (1986). King Arthur. United States: Perennial Library. p. 49. 
  4. ↑ St. Illtud's Church, Llanwit Major
  5. ↑ Newell, Ebenezer Josiah (1887). A popular history of the ancient British church: with special reference to the church in Wales. Society for promoting Christian knowledge. Retrieved 22 January 2012. 
  6. ↑ Hall, Samuel Carter (1861). The book of south Wales, the Wye, and the coast. pp. 252–. Retrieved 22 January 2012. 
  7. ↑ Williams, Peter N. (March 2001). The Sacred Places of Wales: A Modern Pilgrimage. Wales Books. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-7596-0785-9. Retrieved 22 January 2012. 
  8. ↑ Llantwit Major site; http://www.illtudsgalileechapel.org.uk/britains-earliest-centre-of-learning/
  9. ↑ Galilee Chapel Project. Retrieved 12 Oct 2012
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Llantwit Major site; http://www.illtudsgalileechapel.org.uk/britains-earliest-centre-of-learning/saint-illtud/
  11. ↑ Martyrologium Romanum, 2004, Vatican Press (Typis Vaticanis), page 609.
  12. ↑ National Calendar for Wales, accessed 6 February 2012

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