Elian

Saint Elian is honored as a missionary to Cornwall and a founder of monastic houses, but little is known for certain about his life. Some accounts say he came by sea from Rome and landed on Anglesey in north Wales, at Porth yr Ychen, where he established a church around 450. Others hold that he was of Cornish or Breton roots and lived in the sixth century. He is said to have been related to Saint Ismael, the Welsh bishop of Rhos.

He is remembered for his missionary work in Cornwall and for founding several religious houses. A Greek synaxarion adds that he lived as an ascetic, pleasing to God, in the north of Anglesey and died in peace. He is commemorated on 13 January (new style; 26 January on the old calendar).