Today is the feast of St David (c.500-588/9), the patron saint of Wales, and founder of the ancient cathedral church which bears his name in Pembrokeshire. There is an account of his life and cult here.
I have visited St Davids once, and its remoteness does still give the journey a sense of pilgrimage to this holy place. The way the cathedral nestles in its valley setting adds to the element of surprise and delight upon approaching it for the first time.
St Davids Cathedral with the ruins of the medieval Bishop's palace in the foreground
Image:visitpembrokeshire.com
What have been believed to be the relics of the saint remain in the cathedral. In 2002 they were examined and pronounced to be of considerably later date and from three people, one of them a woman, as detailed in the report here.
An oak casket reliquary holding the reputed bones of St. David, St Justinian and possibly St Caradoc in the Holy Trinity Chapel of St. David's Cathedral. The reliquary is in the original pilgrim's recess.
The relics in this box were discovered in 1866, then sealed up and buried under the floor of the chapel. In 1920 they were moved into their present oak casket behind an iron grille.
Image: Sacred Destinations
However there were plans to create a more elaborate shrine to the patron saint, as can be read in reports from 2010 here and also here. I understand that this has now been done, and the shrine, or at least its remains, enhanced.
The back of St. David's Shrine, built in 1275, from the north aisle. The shrine stands in its original position, but its relics and treasures were confiscated during the reformation.
The back of St. David's Shrine, built in 1275, from the north aisle. The shrine stands in its original position, but its relics and treasures were confiscated during the reformation.
Image; Sacred Destinations
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