Above politics and petty differences, St David is a peerless, noble figurehead for the Welsh nation, a unifying and benevolent symbol in a dangerous and greedy world.

In the Armes Prydain, an epic written more than a thousand years ago, the poet prophesied that in the future, when all might seem lost to us, the Cymry would unite to follow David as their leader: 'A lluman glân Dewi a ddyrchafant' ..... 'And they will raise the pure banner of Dewi' .

Who was St David?

Dewi Sant - St David was born towards the end of the fifth century, less than a hundred years after the last Roman legions had marched out of Wales. He was the son of Sant a scion of the royal house of Ceredigion, his mother was Non, daughter of Cynyr of Caio, remembered by numerous churches and holy wells in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany. Educated at Henfynyw (Old Menevia) in Ceredigion, where he 'learned the alphabet, the psalms, the lessons for the whole year, the Masses and the Synaxis', he founded a Celtic monastic community at Glyn Rhosin (The Vale of Roses) on the western headland of Sir Benfro, at the spot where St Davids Cathedral stands today. The spot may well have been the site of a very early religious community, for it is also associated with St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who, having been born in south Wales, is said to have spent some time at Glyn Rhosyn before embarking for Ireland from Porth Mawr nearby.

David's fame as a teacher and ascetic spread throughout the Celtic world. He earned the curious nickname Dewi Ddyfrwr - David the Waterman - no doubt reflecting the harsh bread-and-water regime of Celtic monks. Many traditions and legends are associated with him. When he rose to address to a great crowd at a synod at Llanddewi Brefi in Ceredigion, the ground rose under his feet forming a little hill so that all could hear him speak. Again, a golden-beaked dove is said to have landed on his shoulder as a symbol of his holiness.

His foundation at Glyn Rhosyn became one of the most important shrines of the Christian world, and the most important centre in Wales. Roads and tracks from all over the nation led to it and in the Middle Ages two pilgrimages to Menevia was equal to one to Rome. Over fifty churches and innumerable holy wells were dedicated to him in Wales alone.

The religious centre of St Davids thus became a focus for the religious aspirations of the Welsh nation and as Gerallt Cymro (Giraldus Cambrensis) relates: 'The Bishopric of St Davids became .....a symbol of the independence of Wales...and that is why David himself was exalted into a Patron Saint of Wales.' St Davids has for more than a millennium been the spiritual heart of our nation and the focus of its ideals.

The date of Dewi Sant's death is recorded as 1st March, but the year is uncertain - possibly 589. As his tearful monks prepared for his death St David uttered these words: 'Brothers be ye constant. The yoke which with single mind ye have taken, bear ye to the end; and whatsoever ye have seen with me and heard, keep and fulfil' and as he died 'Lords, brothers and sisters, be cheerful, keep the faith, and do those little things which ye have seen me do and heard me say.'

Dewi Sant, was incidentally, the only patron saint of the four chief nations of these islands to have been born in the land which adopted him.

Pwy oedd Dewi Sant?

Ganwyd Dewi Sant tuag at ddiwedd y bumed ganrif, llai na chant o flynyddoedd wedi i'r olaf o lengoed Rhufain adael Cymru. Tad Dewi oedd Sant, etifedd teulu brenhinol Ceredigion, a'i fam oedd Non, merch i Gynyr o Caio, enw sydd yn cael ei gofio mewn nifer o eglwysydd a ffynhonau sanctaidd yng Nghymru, Cernyw a Llydaw. Cafodd Dewi ei addysg yn Henfynyw yng Ngheredigion, lle ddysgodd y wyddor, y salmau a'r llithoedd ar gyfer y flwyddyn eglwysig. Sylfaenodd gymdeithas mynachaidd Geltaidd yng Nglyn Rhosyn, ar arfordir gorllewinol Sir Benfro, yn y man lle sefir Eglwys Gadeiriol Tyddewi heddiw. Mae'n bosib i'r safle fod yn gartref i gymuned crefyddol gynnar iawn. Mae Sant Padrig hefyd yn gysylltiedig gyda'r safle, gannwyd Sant Padrig yn Ne Cymru, a dywedyd iddo dreulio ychydig o amser yng Nglyn Rhosyn cyn hwylio i Iwerddon o Borth Mawr.

Tyfodd enwogrwydd Dewi fel athro drwy'r byd Geltaidd. Roedd Dewi yn byw bywyd llym, fel pob mynach Celtaidd arall - yn wir cafodd y llysenw Dewi Ddyfrwr. Mae yna nifer fawr o chwedlau yn ymwneud a Dewi. Efallai mai'r enwocaf yw y bregeth yn Llanddewi Brefi yng Ngheredigion, pan yn annerch y dorf enfawr fe gododd y tir o dan ei draed er mwyn bod pawb yn gallu clywed ef yn siarad. Dywedid i golomen pig-aur lanio ar ei ysgwydd fel symbol o'i sancteiddrwydd.

Daeth y sefydliad yng Nglyn Rhosyn yn un o'r mannau cysegredig mwyaf pwysig yn y byd Cristnogol, ac yn sicr yr un fwyaf pwysig yng Nghymru: roedd llwybrau a heolydd drwy Gymru gyfan yn arwain tuag ato, ac yn y canol oesoedd roedd dau bererindod i Tyddewi yn cyfateb i un pererindod i Rhufain.

Felly daeth Glyn Rhosyn yn ganolbwynt i ddyheadau crefyddol y genedl Gymreig a fel ysgrifennodd Gerallt Gymro (Giraldus Cambrensis): 'Fe ddaeth Esgobaeth Tyddewi …yn symbol o annibyniaeth Cymru…a dyna paham y dyrchafwyd Dewi ei hun i fod yn Nawdd sant Cymru.'

Mae Mawrth y cyntaf wedi ei gofnodi fel dyddiad marwolaeth Dewi Sant, ond mae yna ansicrwydd ynglyn a'r flwyddyn - mae 589 yn bosibilrwydd. Wrth i'r mynachod yn Nglyn Rhosyn baratoi ar gyfer ei farwolaeth, dywedodd Dewi wrthynt: 'Frodyr a chwiorydd, byddwch lawen a gwnewch y pethau bychain a welsoch ac a glywsoch gennyf fi.'