Saint Petroc | |
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| Abbot of Lanwethinoc | |
| Born | c. 468[1] Wales |
| Died | c. 564 Treravel,Padstow, Cornwall, England |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Anglican Communion Eastern Orthodox Church[2] |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Majorshrine | St Petroc's Church, Bodmin, Cornwall, England |
| Feast | 4 June |
| Attributes | Wolf,stag, church |
| Patronage | Devon,Cornwall |
Petroc orPetrock (Medieval Latin:Petrocus;Welsh:Pedrog; French:Perreux;c. 468 – c. 564) was aBritish prince andChristian saint.
Probably born in SouthWales, he primarily ministered to theBritons ofDevon (Dewnens) andCornwall (Kernow) then forming the kingdom ofDumnonia where he is associated with a monastery atPadstow, which is named after him (Pedroc-stowe, or 'Petrock's Place').[3] Padstow appears to have been his earliest major cult centre, butBodmin became the major centre for his veneration when his relics were moved to the monastery there in the later ninth century.[4] Bodmin monastery became one of the wealthiest Cornish foundations by the eleventh century.[5] There is a second ancient dedication to him nearby atLittle Petherick or "Saint Petroc Minor".
In Devon ancient dedications total a probable seventeen (plusTimberscombe just over the border in Somerset), mostly coastal and including one within the old Roman walls ofExeter as well as the villages ofPetrockstowe andNewton St Petroc. In Wales his name is commemorated at St Petrox nearPembroke, Ferwig nearCardigan andLlanbedrog on theLlŷn Peninsula. He also became a popular saint inBrittany by the end of the tenth century.
The earliestLife of Petroc states that he was a younger son of an unnamed Welsh chieftain:[6] the twelfth century version known as theGotha Life, written at Bodmin, identifies that king asGlywys ofGlywysing (Orme 2000, p. 215) and Petroc as a brother ofGwynllyw and uncle ofCadoc.
He studied in Ireland,[7] where later he is said to have been the teacher ofKevin of Glendalough.[2] He made a pilgrimage to Rome, and returning to Cornwall, the wind and tide brought him toTrebetherick.[2] He founded a monastery and school at Lanwethinoc (the church of Wethinoc, an earlier holy man), at the mouth of the river Camel on the North Cornish Coast. It came to be called Petrocs-Stow (Petroc's Place), now Padstow.
Guron founded a hermitage at Bodmin, but left forthe coast upon the arrival of Petroc. St Guron's Well is located at the western entrance to the churchyard ofSt Petroc's Church, Bodmin. All accounts indicate that Petroc retired from Padstow to Bodmin.[8]
Petroc ministered throughoutDumnonia, which centred in Dewnans (Devon), and included Kernow (Cornwall), Somerset and Dorset. He also served in Brittany.
Petroc founded churches in Little Petherick and in many parts of Britain, Wales and Brittany. He is said to have convertedConstantine of Cornwall to Christianity by saving a deer Constantine was hunting.[7] Constantine later established a hermitage at what is now calledConstantine Bay. After thirty years, legend says that Petroc went on the pilgrimage to Rome by way ofBrittany. The place of his death was reputedly at a house belonging to a family named Rovel, thought to be a farm now called Treravel nearLittle Petherick.[9]
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WithPiran andMichael, he is one of thepatron saints ofCornwall.[10] He was described byThomas Fuller as "the captain of Cornish saints".[11]
Humility is a virtue strongly associated with Petroc.[12] One of the pervasive stories about this describes his return from the pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem. As he set foot home in Britain under a heavy rain, he confidently told his companions that it would clear up by morning. Instead, the downpour lasted for many days and Petroc, ashamed of his presumptuousness, is said to have left on another pilgrimage, this one ofpenance.[12] Legendarily he travelled as far asIndia where he is said to have tamed a wolf.[12] Iniconography, he is frequently depicted with this unlikely pet.[12] Also, like several other British saints, Petroc is often shown with a stag.
In 936, KingAthelstan of England annexed Cornwall and granted privilege of sanctuary to Padstow, there only being two other churches in Cornwall with this privilege.[7]
Hisfeast day is 4 June.[12] His majorshrine was always atSt Petroc's Church, Bodmin. In 1177, aBreton stole his relics from Bodmin and gave them to theAbbey of St Meen. However,Henry II restored them and, though the relics were thrown out during theEnglish Reformation, theirivory casket is still on public display at St. Petroc's in Bodmin.[7] His remains were reputed to have ended up in the bay of Hailemouth near Padstow.[13] A list in the Leofric missal and another manuscript list in Exeter Cathedral record that the cathedral possessed relics of the saint. It is likely that they had been presented by King Athelstan.[14]
Petroc isremembered in theChurch of England with acommemoration on 4 June.[15]
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