ELLI, saint (fl. 6th century).

The ' Vita Cadoci,' composed in the late 11th century, is the only source for the legend of S. Elli. It relates that when S. Cadoc, in the course of his travels in foreign lands, landed upon a group of islands called the islands of Grimbul, the queen of that region implored him to free her from the curse of barrenness. S. Cadoc interceded for her, and eventually she bore a son, Elli, whom she entrusted to the care of S. Cadoc. The latter brought the infant Elli with him to Llancarfan, fostering and educating him with great care. The 'Vita' goes on to say that when S. Cadoc was preparing to depart to Benevento, it was Elli whom he appointed to succeed him as abbot. Elli used to visit his master annually until the latter's death. Miscellaneous documents added at the end of the ' Vita Cadoci ' mention the ' Atrium Album ' in which Elli dwelt, and tell of the founding by Elli, at an unspecified place, of a monastic establishment which was to be ever subject to the 'familia' of S. Cadoc. Two churches are named after S. Elli, Llanelly, in Carmarthenshire, and Lanelli in Brecknock. The feast of S. Elli is given as 23 January

Author

• Hywel David Emanuel, (1921 - 1970)

Sources

• Baring-Gould and John Fisher, The Lives of the British Saints: the saints of Wales and Cornwall and such Irish saints as have dedications in Britain, ii, 447-9
• Wade-Evans, Vitae Sanctorum Britanniae et Genealogiae (Cardiff 1944), 54-6, 120, 130-2

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Saint Elli

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q17509259

Published date: 1959

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