Teilo

Saint Teilo ( or ; was a British Christian monk, bishop, and founder of monasteries and churches. He was from Penalun (Penally) near Tenby in Pembrokeshire, south Wales.

Reputed to be a cousin, friend, and disciple of Saint David, he was bishop of Llandaff and founder of the first church at Llandaff Cathedral, where his tomb is. He also founded Llandeilo Fawr, as well as Penally Abbey at his place of birth.

Biography St Teilo may have been known as Eliau or Eilliau in Old Welsh. 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. In some modern sources, he is accounted the grandson of Ceredig son of Cunedda and thus a member of the royal family of Gwynedd which later considered Saint David among its members.

Teilo's education took place at two institutions directed by saints. The first was established by the renowned Church leader and educator Dubricius (or Dyfrig), while the second was the school directed by Paulinus of Wales at "Wincdi-Lantquendi" (thought to be Whitland) where he met and became a close companion of St David (Dewi).

Like many founder-bishops, they appear to have had experience in battle. Along with companions Aeddan and Ysfael, he traveled to Mynyw (St. Davids), where Dewi founded his abbey, and ousted an Irish pirate named Bwya, killed his cattle and burnt his fortress to the ground. He succeeded Dubricius as Bishop of Llandaff after Dubricius retired to a hermitage on Bardsey Island. Teilo founded the first church in Llandaff, headed a monastic school, and become bishop over Glywysing & Gwent.

In the 540s yellow plague, probably the Justinian plague, affected Britain. In 549 Teilo, with a small group of monks, moved to Dol in Brittany. and joined Samson of Dol at Dol: to this day the fruit groves they planted are known as the groves of Teilo and Samson. Relics are now even more widely distributed: they are venerated at Landeleau (Finistère), Plogonnec (Finistère), and Saint-Thélo (Côtes-du-Nord). He is not infrequently represented, as in many Breton churches, riding a stag.