PAULINUS (PEULIN), saint, fl. late 5th century

No 'Life' of this saint is known. In Rhygyfarch's 'Life of S. David' (chapter x), David is stated to have completed his education under S. Paulinus (Paulens), who is described as a 'scribe, a disciple of S. Germanus the bishop.' When Paulinus became blind, David is said to have miraculously restored his sight. Later in the 'Life' (chapter xlix), Paulinus is the aged bishop who advises that David be invited to the Synod of Brefi. Paulinus is pictured in the 'Life of S. Teilo' too as the sage to whom Teilo went to perfect his learning. The 'Life of S. Illtud' (chapter xi) mentions a Paulinus who was a student of Illtud and a contemporary of S. David. But this is probably S. Paul Aurelian. Wrmonoc, author of the 'Life of S. Paul Aurelian,' probably borrowed his details for the early life of his saint in the neighbourhood of Llandovery from the tradition of S. Paulinus. Whether S. Paul Aurelian is really the same as the Carmarthenshire Paulinus is doubtful. An inscribed stone found in the parish of Caeo, north-west of Llandovery, has as part of its legend, 'HIC PAULINUS IACIT.' The metrical inscription, the character of the epigraphy, and the locality in which the monument was found, combine to suggest that this Paulinus is the Welsh saint of that name. But there is no positive evidence to make the identification certain. The 'Paulinus' mentioned on a pillar-stone found in the parish of Llantrisant, Anglesey, may also be this saint (Nash-Williams, 63). The church of Llan-gors, Brecknock, is dedicated to Paulinus. In the old parish of Llandingat, Carmarthenshire, Capel Peulin and Nant-y-bai chapel were both dedicated to Paulinus (according to Doble). 22 November is probably the true date of his festival.

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, iv, 72-5
• Wade-Evans, Vitae Sanctorum Britanniae et Genealogiae (Cardiff 1944), 153-4, 164, 208
• J. Gwenogvryn Evans and John Rhys, The Text of the Book of Llan Dâv (Oxford 1893), 99
• G. H. Doble, Saint Paul of Léon and Welsh Saints Series Saint Paulinus of Wales. A recent discovery about the founder of St-Pol-de-Leon (1942)
• An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire. Vol. V - County of Carmarthen (London 1917), 34-6
• Nash-Williams, The Early Christian Monuments of Wales (Cardiff 1950), 63, 107-9

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q2605207

Published date: 1959

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