Saint Sulien, Sulian, or Silin was the reputed 6th-century founder-abbot of a monastery at Luxulyan ("Chapel of Sulien")[1] in Cornwall. His feast day is 29 July. He is likely the same as the Saint Sulien of Cornouaille and Domnonée.[2][3] The prefix "lux" is equivalent to "loc" which means place. It is common in Brittany, but not in Cornwall, which suggests this is a Breton foundation.[4]
Saint Sulien | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 6th century |
| Died | c. 6th century probably Luxulyan, Cornwall |
| Venerated in | Christianity |
| Feast | 29 July |
Etymology
editSulien is a Welsh variant of the given name "Julian," but has also been interpreted as being derived from the Welsh sul, meaning "sun" + geni, meaning "born," Sulien being the name of a Celtic solar deity.[5]
There have probably been other Christian Celtic saints with the same (or similar) name, and a variant of it is also used as an alias of Saint Tysilio.
Other Saint Suliens
editConfusion has arisen between different legends of Celtic saints with the name Sulien (in a variety of spellings). The most commonly encountered are:
- Saint Sulien the Wise, bishop of St Davids.[6]
- Saint Sulinus of East Brittany – feast day 1 October.
- Saint Suliau (of Wales) or Saint Tysilio, a Welsh prince – feast day 8 November.
- Saint Sulien and his brother (or cousin Saint Maël) of Corwen in mid-Wales.
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ Orme, Nicholas. The Saints of Cornwall, OUP Oxford, 2000, p. 23 ISBN 9780191542893
- ^ "Sulian", The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, 5th ed. (David Farmer, ed.) OUP, 2011 ISBN 9780199596607
- ^ Rees, Elizabeth. Early Christianity in South-West Britain, Oxbow Books, 2020, p. 208 ISBN 9781911188582
- ^ Rees, Elizabeth. Dictionary of Celtic Saints, The History Press, 2012, no pagination ISBN 9780752490175
- ^ Doble, G. H. (1970) The Saints of Cornwall: part 5. Truro: Dean and Chapter; pp. 104–126
- ^ Davies, W. H., "Sulien, ' Sulgenus ', surnamed ' The Wise '; 1011 - 1091, teacher and Bishop of St David's". Dictionary of Welsh Biography,(1959)
Sources
edit- "Saint Sulian: founder of Luxulyan church (?)" in: G. H. Doble, The Saints of Cornwall; part 5: Saints of Mid-Cornwall. Truro: Dean and Chapter, 1970, pp. 104–26