February 9 Saint Teilo of Llandeilo

St. Teilo was a Welsh bishop in the sixth century. Born into a well connected family, he started as a parish priest and  head master of a monastic school. When the yellow plague hit Wales, St. Teilo and his flock took a seven year vacation in Brittany, France. Legend has it that he took a little side trip to  Cornwall to make  friends with a dragon, which he leash trained, though no record of the dragon being house broken.

St. Teilo’s true legacy occurred after his death When he died, the three unpronounceable Welsh towns of Llandeilo, Penally, and Llandaff each wanted his relics, so the three priests left his body in a chapel overnight. When they returned in the morning there were three bodies! You can now visit all three if you happen to be in Wales. The best example of his head is in Llandaff.

Thanks to Peter Reeve “Days” for my unabashed lifting of his materials.