Saint Gildas the Elder

Also known as

• Gildas the Albanian
• Gildas the Scot

Memorial

• 29 January

Profile

Son of Caunus, a chieftain in areas in northern Britain. Monk at Llancarvan. Spiritual student of Saint Cadoc. Hermit on the islands of Ronech and Ecni off the south coast of Wales. Wandering preacher and evangelist in the British Isles. In late life he retired to live as a prayerful monk at Glastonbury Abbey.

Died

• 512 at Glastonbury Abbey of natural causes
• relics were at Glastonbury, but appear to have been lost over the centuries

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Saint Gildas the Elder“. Saints.SQPN.com. 29 January 2013. Web. 20 June 2013. <>