Saint Dyfan | |
|---|---|
 SS Dyfan & Teilo's in Merthyr Dyfan | |
| Martyr | |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Feast | Usually unobserved |
| Patronage | Merthyr Dyfan Llandyfan |
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.
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.
- ^ Bartrum, Peter C. "Dyfan, St.", in A Welsh Classical Dictionary: People in History and Legend up to about A. D. 1000, p. 236. National Library of Wales, 1993. Emended 2009.
- ^ Bartrum, Peter C. "Duvianus (1)", in A Welsh Classical Dictionary: People in History and Legend up to about A. D. 1000, p. 236. National Library of Wales, 1993. Emended 2009.