Saint Cybi
Saint Cybi (in
Welsh) or
Saint Cuby (in
Cornish) was a
6th century Cornish bishop,
saint and, briefly,
king, who worked largely in
North Wales.
Cybi was the son of
King Selyf of
Cornwall and his wife,
Saint Wenna. He was raised as a
Christian and, in early life, went on a
pilgrimage to
Rome and
Jerusalem. He became a priest and was consecrated as a bishop, before he arrived home to find that his was father dead and he was King of Cornwall. Cybi politely declined the Throne and, instead, travelled through his kingdom, preaching to the people and building churches at
Duloe,
Tregony,
Cubert and
Landulph.
He then moved on to
South Wales, founding churches at
Llangybi-upon-Usk and
Llanddyfrwyr-yn-Edeligion, before spending some time in
Ireland. He eventually sailed for
North Wales, landing at
Llangibi on the
Lleyn Peninsula. Off
Anglesey, King
Maelgwn Gwynedd gave him the old
Roman fort at
Holyhead (subsequently known, in Welsh, as
Caer Gybi) on
Holy Island (thence called
Ynys Gybi). He founded a large and important
monastery there.
Cybi was a great friend of Saint
Seiriol. He would always face the Sun while travelling to meet him and his resulting tanned complexion led to him being known as
Cybi Felyn or
Cuby the Tanned. He is also said to have attended the
Synod of Llandewi Brefi where he advised some
pilgrims on their journey to
Bardsey.
Cybi died on
8 November 555 and was buried in the 'Chapel of the Grave' adjoining his monastery at Holyhead.
*
Early British Kingdoms: St. Cybi Felyn*
Celtic Literature Collective: Vita Sancti Kebii*
The Friends of St. Cybi
