Gelert

Saint Gelert (Celer, Celert, Kellarth) was a saint of the early Celtic Church in Wales. Several places in the country bear his name, among them Beddgelert ("Gelert's grave"), the surrounding valley, Cwm Gelert, and Llangeler ("Gelert's church"), where a church is dedicated to him.

He was a hermit in the late 7th century and lived in a cave near the holy well of Saint Celer, close to Llandysul. In ancient times pilgrims went to the well to be healed through Gelert; later a chapel dedicated to the Mother of God (Capel Mair) was built over the well, of which ruins remain. He is believed to have been a missionary and to have preached at Llangeler and Beddgelert. It is also held that he was martyred.

The saint's name has been confused with the legend of the faithful hound Gelert, invented by an innkeeper of Beddgelert in the 1790s and tied to Prince Llywelyn the Great; but Saint Gelert was a man. His day is 29 June, by the Western calendar (new style). He is honored as a saint of the undivided Church.