Oudoceus
Encyclopedia
Saint Oudoceus or Saint Euddogwy (Welsh
) is generally known as the third Bishop of Llandaff
. In reality, he was probably a 7th century 'Bishop of Teilo
' based at Llandeilo
Fawr. Both are in South Wales
.
Oudoceus' 12th century hagiographic
'life' in the Book of Llandaff
tells how he was the son of King Budic of Brittany
, born in that country shortly after his father's returned there from exile in Dyfed
. His mother was said to be the sister of Saint Teilo and Budic promised that Oudoceus could train for a life in the Church
under him. So Oudoceus came to Wales
and eventually succeeded Teilo as Bishop of Llandaff
.
Unfortunately, land grants, also in the Book of Llandaff, show that Oudoceus was a contemporary of a number of late 7th century kings in South Wales. He could not possibly have been the nephew or immediate successor of Teilo who flourished about a hundred years earlier. Furthermore, there is no evidence that Llandaff
was the centre of a bishopric
until at least the early 11th century. Oudoceus would have been a Bishop of Teilo, based at Llandeilo Fawr. Wendy Davies
puts his episcopal reign between about 650 and 700. However, Oudoceus' associations with Llandaff are very strong and it seems likely that he was an early patron of the church there. He is said to have placed there a number of relics of Saint Teilo. He eventually retired to Llandogo
, near Tintern
, and there he died on 2 July. He was supposedly buried at the church in Llandaff, on the site of which the present Llandaff Cathedral
now stands. He is one of the three saint
s to whom it is dedicated.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
) is generally known as the third Bishop of Llandaff
Bishop of Llandaff
The Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.-Area of authority:The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , in the village of Llandaff, just north-west of the City of...
. In reality, he was probably a 7th century 'Bishop of Teilo
Bishop of Llandaff
The Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.-Area of authority:The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , in the village of Llandaff, just north-west of the City of...
' based at Llandeilo
Llandeilo
Llandeilo is a town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Towy by the A483 on a 19th century stone bridge. Its population is 1,731.The town is served by Llandeilo railway station on the Heart of Wales Line.- Early history :...
Fawr. Both are in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
Oudoceus' 12th century hagiographic
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
'life' in the Book of Llandaff
Book of Llandaff
The Book of Llandaff is a 12th century compilation of documents relating to the history of the diocese of Llandaff in Wales...
tells how he was the son of King Budic of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, born in that country shortly after his father's returned there from exile in Dyfed
Dyfed
Dyfed is a preserved county of Wales. It was created on 1 April 1974 under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972, and covered approximately the same geographic extent as the ancient Principality of Deheubarth, although excluding the Gower Peninsula and the area west of the River Tawe...
. His mother was said to be the sister of Saint Teilo and Budic promised that Oudoceus could train for a life in the Church
Celtic Christianity
Celtic Christianity or Insular Christianity refers broadly to certain features of Christianity that were common, or held to be common, across the Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages...
under him. So Oudoceus came to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and eventually succeeded Teilo as Bishop of Llandaff
Bishop of Llandaff
The Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.-Area of authority:The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , in the village of Llandaff, just north-west of the City of...
.
Unfortunately, land grants, also in the Book of Llandaff, show that Oudoceus was a contemporary of a number of late 7th century kings in South Wales. He could not possibly have been the nephew or immediate successor of Teilo who flourished about a hundred years earlier. Furthermore, there is no evidence that Llandaff
Llandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
was the centre of a bishopric
Diocese of Llandaff
The Diocese of Llandaff is a Church in Wales diocese. It is headed by the Bishop of Llandaff, whose seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Llandaff, a suburb of Cardiff...
until at least the early 11th century. Oudoceus would have been a Bishop of Teilo, based at Llandeilo Fawr. Wendy Davies
Wendy Davies
Wendy Elizabeth Davies OBE FBA FSA FRHistS FLSW is an Emeritus Professor of History at University College, London in England.Davies studied for her BA degree and PhD degree in history at UCL. Following positions in Munich and Birmingham, she returned to UCL as a Lecturer in Medieval History...
puts his episcopal reign between about 650 and 700. However, Oudoceus' associations with Llandaff are very strong and it seems likely that he was an early patron of the church there. He is said to have placed there a number of relics of Saint Teilo. He eventually retired to Llandogo
Llandogo
Llandogo is a small village in Monmouthshire, south Wales, located between Monmouth and Chepstow in the lower reaches of the Wye Valley AONB, two miles north of Tintern. It is set on a steep hillside overlooking the River Wye and across into the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England.- History...
, near Tintern
Tintern
Tintern is a village on the west bank of the River Wye in Monmouthshire, Wales, close to the border with England, about 5 miles north of Chepstow...
, and there he died on 2 July. He was supposedly buried at the church in Llandaff, on the site of which the present Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is situated in the district of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The current building was constructed in the 12th century over the site of an earlier church...
now stands. He is one of the three saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s to whom it is dedicated.