Saint Teilo ( la, Teliarus
[ or '; br, Teliau][Wainewright, John.]
in ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', Vol. XIV. Robert Appleton Co. (New York), 1912. Accessed 20 July 2013. or '; french: Télo[ or '; – 9 February ), also known by his Cornish name Eliud,] was a British Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
monk, bishop, and founder of monasteries and churches. He was from Penalun (Penally
Penally ( cy, Penalun) coastal village, parish and community southwest of Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The village is known for its Celtic Cross, Penally Abbey (a Gothic style country house), the neighbouring St. Deiniol's Well, WWI Practice ...
) near Tenby
Tenby ( cy, Dinbych-y-pysgod, lit=fortlet of the fish) is both a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on the western side of Carmarthen Bay, and a local government community.
Notable features include of sandy beaches and the Pembroke ...
in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire ( ; cy, Sir Benfro ) is a Local government in Wales#Principal areas, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and the rest by sea. The count ...
, south Wales.
Reputed to be a cousin, friend, and disciple of Saint David
Saint David ( cy, Dewi Sant; la, Davidus; ) was a Welsh bishop of Mynyw (now St Davids) during the 6th century. He is the patron saint of Wales. David was a native of Wales, and tradition has preserved a relatively large amount of detail ab ...
, he was bishop of Llandaff and founder of the first church at Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral ( cy, Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf) is an Anglican cathedral and parish church in Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales. It is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is dedicated to Saint Peter ...
, where his tomb is. He also founded Llandeilo Fawr, as well as Penally Abbey
Penally Abbey is an old rectory, now the Penally Abbey Country House Hotel and Restaurant overlooking Carmarthen Bay in the village of Penally, about 1.5 miles from Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was once owned by the Jameson Irish Whiskey, Jam ...
at his place of birth.
Biography
St Teilo may have been known as Eliau or Eilliau in Old Welsh
Old Welsh ( cy, Hen Gymraeg) is the stage of the Welsh language from about 800 AD until the early 12th century when it developed into Middle Welsh.Koch, p. 1757. The preceding period, from the time Welsh became distinct from Common Brittonic ...
.[ He was born at Penalun (Penally) around the year 500. Teilo's father is usually identified as Ensich ap Hydwn,] and he was thought to be the brother of Anowed, and the uncle of Saints Ismael and Euddogwy
Saint Oudoceus (Latin) or Euddogwy (Welsh) (c.536–c.615 or 625) is generally known as the third Bishop of Llandaff in South Wales. In reality he was probably a 7th-century bishop at Llandeilo Fawr. Wendy Davies puts his episcopal reign bet ...
.[ Rees, W. J. (trans.) ''Liber Landavensis'']
pp. 351
370 ff
Welsh MSS. Society (Llandovery), 1840. Accessed 26 March 2013. In some modern sources, he is accounted the grandson of Ceredig
Ceredig ap Cunedda (died 453), was king of Ceredigion in Wales.[
]