St. Eiliwedd
(Born c.AD 468)
(Latin: Almheda, English: Almeda)

St. Eiliwedd was a daughter of King Brychan Brycheiniog, a holy man with an innumerable pious family. Like her siblings, she was brought up with a view to spreading the Christian religion among the Cymri; but though most of the others travelled to Cornwall, she chose to remain in Wales. She rejected a proposed alliance with an earthly prince and, instead, espoused herself to Christ. She lived on a hill called Pebcefn-y-Gaer (Penginger), near Brecon, in an isolated hermitage where she was eventually martyred, under unknown circumstances. Her feast is held on 1st August.

Records of St. Eiliwedd date back to the 12th century. She is generally considered legendary.

 

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