Beuno of Clynnog Fawr

Saint Beuno was a Welsh abbot, confessor and missionary of the seventh century at Clynnog Fawr monastery and fell asleep in 640. He is commemorated on 21 April, in the calendar for Wales on 20 April, and in the Russian Church on the third Sunday after Pentecost, in the Synaxis of the Saints of Britain and Ireland. His name, in Old Welsh Bou[g]nou, is thought to mean "knowing cattle".

According to tradition he was born at Berriew in Powys, grandson of a local prince, of the dynasty descended from Vortigern, king of Britain. According to another version he was son of Bugi, son of Gwynllyw the Bearded. After education and ordination at the monastery of Bangor in northern Wales he became a missionary, with the support of King Cadfan of Gwynedd, a great benefactor of his. Cadfan's son Cadwallon deceived him about some land and, when the saint asked for justice, was unsympathetic. Then Cadwallon's cousin Gwyddaint gave to God and Beuno forever his land at Clynnog Fawr, on the Llŷn peninsula, in exchange. There Beuno founded his monastery, around 616, and fell asleep in peace "on the seventh day of Easter". He strengthened many in the struggle against sin and had compassion for those in need.

He is credited with raising seven people from the dead, among them his niece, the virgin Winefride (Gwenffrewi), whom, by tradition, he raised after she was struck down with a sword, and his disciple and cousin Aelhaiarn. He is said to have had a "wondrous vision" before his death. Eleven churches bear his name, among them one at Clynnog Fawr and one at Culbone on the Somerset coast. His monastery is destroyed, but his grave chapel survives. At Tremeirchion near St Asaph, St Beuno's, a former theological college, is now a Jesuit spirituality retreat centre. He is not in the Roman Martyrology.