Afrella Explained

Afrella or Arilda was an early 6th century Welsh saint.

Afrelia was the daughter of "a high-ranking official at the royal court of Gwent" whom it has been suggested was Vortimer, a son of Vortigen and his queen Severa Verch Macsen (daughter of Roman Emperor Maximus).

She was the wife of Umbrafel. Umbrafel had a nephew Samson of Dol. When Samson persuaded his parents to join a monastery,[1] Umbrafel and his wife Afrelia, decided to do likewise. Afrelia was also mother of Saint Maglorius,[2] Henwg and another unknown child. She is said to have founded a monastery. Peter C. Bartrum suggests that she may be identical to the little-known Saint Arilda of Oldbury-on-Severn and Oldbury-on-the-Hill in Gloucestershire.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Adrien Baillet, Les Vies des Saints, avec l'histoire de leur culte, selon qu ..., Volume 2(chez la Veuve Roulland, 1724) p401.
  2. Julia M. H. Smith, St Maglorius, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
  3. http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/annaoxen Den hellige Anna av Oxenhall