Dyfan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saint Dyfan is a highly obscure figure who was presumably the namesake of Merthyr Dyfan ("martyrium of Dyfan") and therefore an early Christian saint and martyr in southeastern Wales in Roman or Sub-Roman Britain.[1] He is sometimes styled the protomartyr of Wales. The erection of his martyrium was credited to the 6th-century St Teilo. In the 19th century, Edward Williams conflated him with St Deruvian, a figure in the legendary accounts of the baptism of King Lucius of Britain. The discovery of Williams's alterations and forgeries have since discredited this connection.[2] Partially based on this connection, however, the church of Merthyr Dyfan dates his martyrdom to c. 180.
Saint Dyfan | |
---|---|
Martyr | |
Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
Feast | Usually unobserved |
Patronage | Merthyr Dyfan Llandyfan |
His feast day does not appear in any medieval Welsh calendar of the saints and is not presently observed by the Anglican, Catholic, or Orthodox churches in Wales.