Saint Madron or Maddern was a Pre-Congregational Saint, monk and hermit.[1]

Life

He is honoured in Cornwall at St Maddern's Church in the village of Madron. He also has a Holy well, noted for its healing powers.[2][3]

Madron was born in Cornwall and was a disciple of Saint Ciarán of Saigir. Very little is known of him except that many miracles were attributed to him.[4] He died c.545 AD near Land's End, Cornwall, and is remembered in Madron Parish Church (Madron Village) and his Feast Day is 17 May.

Identification

John T. Koch [5] has suggested that the saint was not a historical figure but rather a Christianisation of the Mythical Celtic Modron the mother goddess. Indeed, some aspects of the veneration at Madron's well do appear to derive from Pagan origins.

Others [6][7] have suggested that the saint's life is a retelling of the story of St. Madrun, a daughter of Vortimer, a king of Gwent.

Notes

References

  • Haycock, Marged (2007). Legendary poems from the Book of Taliesin. CMCS. ISBN 978-0-9527478-9-5.
  • Gruffydd, William John (1953). Rhiannon: An Inquiry Into the Origin of the First and Third Branches of the Mabinogi. University of Wales Press.
  • Koch, John T. (2006). Celtic culture: a historical encyclopedia. Vol. 1-. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-85109-440-0.
  • "St. Madron of Cornwall, Hermit". Celtic and Old English Saints. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  • Benedictine Monks of St. Augustine's Abbey (1931). The Book of Saints. A Dictionary. A. & C. Black.
  • Butler, Alban (1866). The lives of the fathers, martyrs, and other principal saints. J. Duffy.
  • "Saint Madron of Cornwall". Saints.SQPN.com. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
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