Everything about St Petrock totally explained
Saint Petroc (sometimes spelt
Petrock in
English,
Pedrog in
Welsh and
Perreux in
French) (d.
564) is a
6th century Celtic Christian saint. He was born in
Wales but primarily ministered to the
Britons of
Dumnonia which included the modern counties of
Devon (Dewnans),
Cornwall (
Kernow), and parts of
Somerset (Gwlas an Hav) and
Dorset. He is also known to have ministered to the people of
Brittany.
Early life
Old Welsh genealogies record that he was a younger son of King
Glywys of Glywysing (now
Glamorgan) and a brother of
Gwynllyw, and there are local dedications to him at
St Petrox near
Pembroke and
Ferwig near
Cardigan. He has also given his name to
Llanbedrog, a village on the
Lleyn peninsula. He studied in
Ireland where he's said to have been the teacher of
Saint Kevin.
Travels
After studying, he began his mission to Cornwall, where he founded monasteries at
Padstow and
Bodmin. Padstow, which is named after him (Pedroc-stowe, or 'Petrock's Place'), appears to have been his base for some time. There are numerous other dedications to him throughout Cornwall and he's even said to have converted its king,
Constantine of Dumnonia, to
Christianity. After thirty years, legend says that he went on the pilgrimage to
Rome by way of
Brittany.
Upon his return, Petroc passed through Devon, where ancient dedications to him are even more numerous: a probable seventeen (plus
Timberscombe just over the border in Somerset), compared to Cornwall's five. The position of churches bearing his name, nearly always near the coast, reminds us that in those days travelling was done mainly by sea. The North Devon towns of
Petrockstowe and
Newton St Petroc are also named after Saint Petroc and the
flag of Devon is dedicated to him.
The legendary tales surrounding Petroc are exceptionally vivid and imaginative (giving him a second
pilgrimage, travels to
India, taming wolves) and may represent interpolation from pagan tales.
Veneration
In
iconography, Petroc is usually shown with a stag. His
feast day is
June 4. His major
shrine was always at
St Petroc's Church, Bodmin. In
1177, a
Breton stole his relics from Bodmin and gave them to the
Abbey of St Meen. However,
Henry II restored them and, though the relics were thrown out during the
English Reformation, their beautiful ivory casket is still on public display in the church. With
Saint Piran and
Saint Michael, he's one of the
patron saints of
Cornwall - Piran is currently favourite.
Further Information
Get more info on 'St Petrock'.
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