Saint Tudwal (died c. 564), also known as Tual, Tudgual, Tugdual, Tugual, Pabu, Papu, or Tugdualus (Latin), was a
Breton monk
A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...
, considered to be one of the
seven founder saints of Brittany.
Life
Tudwal was said to be the son of
Hoel Mawr (Hoel I) and his wife,
Pompeia, and a brother of Saint Lenorius. Tudwal travelled to
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
to learn the
scriptures
Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They differ from literature by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual pract ...
, and then became a
hermit
A hermit, also known as an eremite ( adjectival form: hermitic or eremitic) or solitary, is a person who lives in seclusion. Eremitism plays a role in a variety of religions.
Description
In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a C ...
on
Saint Tudwal's Island East, off the coast of
North Wales
North Wales ( cy, Gogledd Cymru) is a region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders Mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdonia N ...
. Tudwal later immigrated to Brittany, settling in Lan Pabu with 72 followers, where he established a large
monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whic ...
under the patronage of his cousin, King Deroch of
Domnonée. He traveled to Paris to obtain confirmation of the land grant from King
Childebert I
Childebert I (c. 496 – 13 December 558) was a Frankish King of the Merovingian dynasty, as third of the four sons of Clovis I who shared the kingdom of the Franks upon their father's death in 511. He was one of the sons of Saint Cl ...
, who insisted be was
Bishop of Tréguier.
Tudwal is shown in
iconography
Iconography, as a branch of art history, studies the identification, description and interpretation of the content of images: the subjects depicted, the particular compositions and details used to do so, and other elements that are distinct fro ...
as a bishop holding a
dragon, now the symbol of
Tregor. His
feast day is celebrated on 30 November or 1 December.
Tro Breizh (Breton for "Tour of Brittany") is a pilgrimage that links the towns of the seven founding saints of Brittany. These seven saints were Celtic monks from Britain from around the 5th or 6th century who went to Brittany to minister to the Britons who had settled there after the Anglo-Saxon incursions in their homeland.
Taylor, Thomas. ''The Celtic Christianity of Cornwall'', Longmans, Green & Company, 1916, p. 52
/ref> Among the first bishoprics was Tréguier
Tréguier (; br, Landreger) is a port town in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France. It is the capital of the province of Trégor.
Geography
Tréguier is located 36 m. N.W. of Saint-Brieuc by road. The port is si ...
, Saint Tudwal's town.
Notable namesake
* Tugdual Menon
Tugdual Menon (also in sources Tuttvalle, Tugdualo, Tudual, Tuttuale, Tuduuale, Jugdulus; before 1502 – 1566/1568), was a French composer. He was likely teacher of the organist Claudio Merulo.
Life
Menon was born in Brittany before 1502, and i ...
Joseph Tidwell. 15th century monk of the Franciscan order. Noted for being a shepherd and roving the coastline to help travellers stranded by shifting sands. Despite his vows, it is implied in local burial records that he fathered 9 children from 4 different women including his cousin Mary
Gallery
File:Tugdual (Saint-Pol-de-Léon).jpg, A statue of the saint at Saint-Pol-de-Léon
Saint-Pol-de-Léon (; br, Kastell-Paol) is a commune in the Finistère department in Brittany in north-western France, located on the coast.
It is noted for its 13th-century cathedral on the site of the original founded by Saint Paul Aurelia ...
File:St Yves Treguier 2005 petite.jpg, The relics
In religion, a relic is an object or article of religious significance from the past. It usually consists of the physical remains of a saint or the personal effects of the saint or venerated person preserved for purposes of veneration as a tang ...
of Saints Ives
Ives is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include:
Surname:
* Alice Emma Ives (1876–1930), American dramatist, journalist
* Burl Ives (1909–1995), American singer, author and actor
* Charles Ives (1874–1954), Ame ...
and Tudwal in a procession at the gate of Tréguier Cathedral in 2005
See also
*Blessed Julian Maunoir, "Apostle of Brittany"
*St Tugual's Chapel
St Tugual's Chapel is a non-denominational and non-consecrated chapel which dates from the 11th century. It is located on Herm, the smallest of the Channel Islands open to the public. The Chapel is currently listed on the Register of Ancient Monu ...
, chapel named after St Tudwal
* Llanstadwell, the name derives from the dedication of the parish and 12th century church to St Tudwal
References
{{Authority control
564 deaths
6th-century Breton bishops
Bishops of Tréguier
Medieval Breton saints
Medieval Welsh saints
6th-century Christian saints
Year of birth unknown