Caradoc

Saint Caradoc (Carantoc, Carannog, in Irish Cairnech), called the Prince, was a Welsh saint of the 5th or 6th century, abbot and confessor, founder of the settlement at Llangrannog in Ceredigion. He is said to have been a prince of the royal house of Ceredigion, either a son of Cunedda Wledig, or his grandson through Queen Meleri and King Ceredig.

His life is known chiefly from two lives written in the 12th century. Like many Welsh saints, he renounced his royal inheritance: to avoid being elected king he fled to Llangrannog, then crossed the sea to help convert Ireland, where, beside Saint Patrick, he fought against the druids and received the name "Carus Cernachus". He returned to Britain and founded communities in the south-⁠west, then went also to Brittany. A story in his lives ties him to King Arthur: losing his portable altar in the waves of the Severn, Caradoc came to Dumnonia, was summoned to Cadwy, duke of Cornwall, and to Arthur, who was at Din Draithou (today Dunster), and gave him his blessing.

He is venerated at Llangrannog, in Cornwall (Crantock), in Ireland, at Carhampton in Somerset and at many places in Brittany, such as Carantec. Everywhere his day is 16 May, the day of his death according to tradition, or 17 May, the day of his burial. He is honored by both the Orthodox and the Catholic Church.