Saint Twrog

In this article we will address the topic of Saint Twrog from different perspectives, in order to analyze and understand its relevance today. Saint Twrog is a topic that has aroused great interest in various areas, and its impact ranges from the personal to the social sphere. Along these lines, we will explore the various aspects related to Saint Twrog, providing detailed information and in-depth analyzes that will allow our readers to obtain a comprehensive vision of this topic. Furthermore, we will examine the impact of Saint Twrog in different historical and geographical contexts, with the aim of understanding its evolution over time. By presenting data, testimonials and expert opinions, we aim to provide our readers with a complete and enriching insight into Saint Twrog.

Portrait of St Twrog on the window at St twrog's Church, Maentwrog, Gwynedd, Wales

Saint Twrog - feast day 26 June - was a 6th-century Welsh saint who founded the church at Maentwrog, having come to Wales early in the Age of the Saints.

Early life

It is believed that Twrog was the son of Ithel Hael o Lydaw of Brittany. He was also the brother of Saint Tanwg of Llandanwg, Saint Tecwyn of Llandecwyn, Saint Tegai of Llandegai and Saint Baglan of Llanfaglan and Baglan.[1]

He was a member of the college of Bardsey which was founded as a monastery in 516 AD.

Llandwrog village centre

Dedications

There are three other dedications to Saint Twrog: Bodwrog in Anglesey (St Twrog's Church, Bodwrog), Llandwrog near Caernarfon, and the ruin on Chapel Rock near Beachley by the Severn Road Bridge.

Maen Twrog

When Twrog first arrived in the village now called Maentwrog, the valley was very marshy, which provided him with the wattle that he would have needed to build his cell. Outside the church near to the belfry door is a large stone known as the Maen Twrog (maen being the Welsh for stone). Twrog is reputed to have thrown the stone from the top of Moelwyn crushing a pagan altar in the valley below. It is said that his handprints can still be seen in the stone. The parish of Maentwrog gets its name from this stone[2]

In the book of Welsh mythology, the Mabinogion, a hero Pryderi was killed at the Glaslyn river and is buried in Maentwrog. The boulder supposedly hurled by the saint is the one said to mark Pryderi's grave.

References

  1. ^ Williams, Robert (1852). Enwogion Cymru: A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen, from the Earliest Times to the Present, and Including Every Name Connected with the Ancient History of Wales. W. Rees.
  2. ^ Baring-Gould, Sabine; Fisher, John (1 June 2005). The Lives of the British Saints: The Saints of Wales, Cornwall and Irish Saints. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7661-8767-2.
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