# Saint David

> patron saint of Wales

**Wikidata**: [Q331697](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q331697)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_David)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saint-david

## Summary

Saint David was born in 512 in Pembrokeshire. He worked as a Catholic priest and Catholic bishop.He died in 589 in St Davids.[1]

## Summary
Saint David was a Welsh bishop and monk who became the patron saint of Wales. He founded religious communities in Wales and is celebrated annually on March 1st as Saint David's Day.

## Biography
- Born: c. 512 AD
- Nationality: Welsh
- Education: None specified in source material
- Known for: Establishing monastic settlements in Wales and becoming the patron saint of Wales
- Employer(s): Catholic Church (as bishop and priest)
- Field(s): Religious leadership, monasticism

## Contributions
Saint David founded several religious communities in Wales, including the monastery at St Davids (now St Davids Cathedral) and the site at Llanddewi Brefi. His established traditions formed the foundation of Welsh Christian identity, leading to the creation of Saint David's Day as a cultural and religious holiday. His monastic rules influenced ecclesiastical practices in the Kingdom of Dyfed during the 6th century.

## FAQs
**What is Saint David's primary association with Wales?**  
Saint David is recognized as the patron saint of Wales and is celebrated annually on March 1st through cultural and religious observances.  

**Where are significant sites related to Saint David located in Wales?**  
Key sites include St Davids Cathedral (established on his monastic foundation) and Llanddewi Brefi, both named after him and located in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion respectively.  

**What was Saint David's role within the Catholic Church?**  
He served as both a Catholic priest and bishop, founding monastic communities and overseeing ecclesiastical affairs in 6th-century Wales.  

**How is Saint David's legacy commemorated?**  
His legacy is preserved through Saint David's Day (March 1st), numerous churches and place names in Wales, and the prominence of his image in Welsh cultural iconography.  

## Why They Matter
Saint David's religious leadership established enduring Christian traditions in Wales, shaping the nation's cultural and spiritual identity. His monastic foundations created centers of learning that preserved regional autonomy during early medieval times. Without his influence, Welsh ecclesiastical development might have followed different paths, and the symbolic representation of Welsh national identity through his patronage would not exist.

## Notable For
- Patron saint of Wales (primary cultural designation)
- Founder of St Davids Cathedral monastic site
- Namesake of Llanddewi Brefi village and community
- Establisher of monastic traditions in the Kingdom of Dyfed
- Inspiration for Saint David's Day cultural holiday
- Episcopate within the Catholic Church hierarchy
- Sixth-century Welsh religious reformer

## Body
### Early Life and Background
Saint David was born around 512 AD in Wales during the early medieval period. His life unfolded within the cultural and political context of the Kingdom of Dyfed, a region in western Wales where he would later establish his most significant religious communities. While detailed personal accounts are scarce, his Welsh nationality is evidenced by the enduring geographical associations of his work.

### Religious Career
As a Catholic priest and bishop, Saint David dedicated his life to monastic leadership. He founded monastic settlements that became enduring religious centers in Wales. Notably, he established the monastery that later developed into St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire. This site, constructed upon his original foundation in 1101, remains a focal point of Welsh pilgrimage. He also founded a community at Llanddewi Brefi in Ceredigion, which bears his name in Welsh ("Dewi" being David). His episcopal role involved overseeing ecclesiastical affairs across Dyfed, contributing to the Christianization of the region during the 6th century.

### Legacy and Cultural Impact
Saint David's influence persists through multiple cultural and religious manifestations. He is universally recognized as the patron saint of Wales, a status cementing his symbolic importance in national identity. His legacy is annually commemorated on Saint David's Day (March 1st), a cultural and religious holiday throughout Wales. Numerous churches and place names across Wales bear his name, reflecting the geographical spread of his monastic networks. The village of St Davids, where his cathedral stands, remains a significant pilgrimage site, while Llanddewi Brefi continues to celebrate its namesake heritage. His monastic traditions formed the bedrock of Welsh Christian practices, distinguishing regional religious development from broader European trends during the early Middle Ages.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Integrated Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013