ST. DAVID OF WALES (MARCH 1ST)

A Contemporary Icon of St. David of Wales

Edited by Bp. Joseph

Today we celebrate St. David of Wales, the patron saint of Welsh Orthodoxy - 

St. David was born on a seaside cliff in Wales in AD 489, grew up in a Christian family, and became a priest at a young age. He lived a simple life among brother monastics in the late fifth and early sixth centuries. They ate vegetables and grains, keeping a Lenten diet all year round. David was called "the drinker of water" because he did not drink wine, accept in its consecrated and transformed form in the Eucharist as the Blood of Christ, and only drank water to quench his thirst. Today, to commemorate his blessed memory, the people of Wales mark St. David's feast day by eating leeks or onions.

In medieval times it was believed that St. David was the nephew of King Arthur. Legend has it that the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick – also said to have been born near the present day city of St. Davids – foresaw the birth of David in approximately AD 520.

St. David was famous for loving nature and preferring the outdoors to the cloister. His community was dedicated to the farming life, shining with virtuous labor, and illustrating a life of constant prayer and manual work. The monastery that St. David founded was notable by its commitment to treating all living things kindly, including the small animals that farmers would normally poison or kill, and it was said that St. David’s commands were obeyed by all of the beasts. St. David is often pictured with animals, birds sitting on his shoulders, as the later St. Francis of Assisi would also be known. It was said that the animals could sense his purity and joy, and therefore loved St. David, listened to him, and protected him. 

St. David is remembered as saying - "Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us." 

St David died on the 1st of March, AD 589, at Minevia, allegedly over 100 years old. His remains were buried in a shrine in the 6th century cathedral which was ransacked in the 11th century by Viking invaders, who plundered the site and murdered two Welsh bishops. The site of his Church became a center for pilgrimage, and many miracles were done through St. David’s prayers and God’s grace!

COLLECT 

ALMIGHTY GOD, Thou called Thy servant David to be a faithful and wise steward of Thy mysteries for the people of Wales: Mercifully grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the Gospel of Christ, we may with him receive our heavenly reward; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Holy St. David of Wales, patron of Western Orthodox, pray for us!

(Portions of the text by Ben Johnson, Historic UK.)