User:Cynnydd/Collen

Saint Collen is a Welsh Saint who lived as a hermit in seventh Century post-Roman Britain. There is little evidence of his life but legends have him as a Christian soldier fighting in the Roman Empire who returns to Britain to become the Abbot of the monastery at Glastonbury. He then leaves to become a hermit in a 'remote and secluded spot'. The Welsh town of Llangollen is named for him and the church of the 'Church in Wales' there is dedicated to him.

Legends
Little is known about Collen ap Gwynnawg ap Clydawg ap Cowdra ap Caradog Freichfras ap Lleyr Merim ap Einion Yrth ap Cunedda Wledig. He was Welsh by birth and of illustrious ancestry. He served for some time abroad as a soldier against Julian the Apostate and slew a Pagan champion who challenged the best man amongst the Christians. Returning to Britain he devoted himself to religion and became Abbot of Glastonbury but forsook the position for the life of a hermit. Legend says that Collen retired to a mountain, 'where he made himself a cell under the shelter of a rock, in a remote and secluded spot'. Another tale says that the area in which Collen established his enclosure was that which he could ride around on a white horse between dawn and dusk on a single day.

Collen was at the right time and place to be a transitional figure in the folklore of the region. There are tales of him slaying a Welsh giantess to save the people of Llangollen (the church there still has an image of him in this triumph), and of fighting a duel with a Saracen in front of the Pope. Stories have him being taken to the land of faerie, but always as a Christian, and always showing the power of God over the old ways.

Legend says that Collen was once invited to dine with the King of the Fairies; some say he was asked by a man, some say by a fairy, and some say by a talking peacock; I cannot say. The saint declined three times, but finally accepted. Though the king appeared to live in an enormous castle, wealthy and fair, surrounded by courtiers and servants, and seated before a table groaning under the weight of good eatings. Collen, however, knew him for the lying spirit he was. The saint reminded the king of the fate of the Godless, then sprinkled holy water in all directions; in an instant there was nothing left but an angry, demonic bird, flying away from the scene.

Another version has it that Collen, while he lived as a hermit near Glastonbury, was summoned to settle the eternal May Day struggle of Gwynn ap Nudd, Lord of the Underworld, with Gwyther, Lord of Summer, for the hand of the fair Creiddylad, the Maiden of Spring. Collen ordained that the quarrel would be resolved on Doomsday, and not before. Then with a sprinkle of holy water, the faerie folk and fortress disappeared.