Digain Explained

Digain
Birth Date:429
Death Date:Late 5th century
Honored In:Roman Catholic Church

Digain (also known as Dygain) was a 5th-century Welsh saint and Prince of Dumnonia (now the English West Country).

Life

Digain ap Constantine was said to be the son of Constantine Corneu, King of Dumnonia, and was born in c.429 He was believed to have had three brothers, Erbin (also sainted), Meirchion and Drustan, and possibly a sister (of unknown name).

Sainthood

Traditionally St Digain founded the church of that name in Llangernyw, meaning "the church of the Cornishman", in the county of Conwy in Wales.[1] The church was sited next to an already venerable yew, the Llangernyw yew. His sainthood was due being a confessor, meaning he was of remarkable virtue and confessed of the faith through writings and preachings, and has the feast day of November 21.[2]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.cpat.demon.co.uk/projects/longer/churches/conwy/16869.htm Eastern Conwy Churches Survey: Church of St Digain, Llangernyw.
  2. Bunson, Matthew, Stephen & Margaret. Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints Our Sunday Visitor 1998 p. 249