Hierarch
David of Wales
Saint David, Bishop of Wales
New Calendar March 1 Old Calendar March 14
Why they are a saint
David of Wales served as Bishop of Wales. David was a Welsh Christian prelate who served as Bishop of Mynyw during the 6th century. Holy hierarchs are venerated because they guarded the faith and shepherded a local church. Orthodox Christians remember him as a hierarch who kept the apostolic faith in his see.
Limited historical information is available about this saint.
Life
Saint David, patron of Wales, is said to have been the son of a Welsh chieftain and lived in the latter half of the sixth century. Ordained priest, he studied under a disciple of Saint Germanus and engaged in missionary work and the building of churches in many places.
He settled at Menevia in the southwest corner of Wales, where he founded a monastery known for its extreme austerity, in imitation of the desert fathers. He was consecrated bishop of the primatial see of Wales at Menevia, afterwards called St David's in his honour, and reposed about the year 601.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source calls him the patron of Wales.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take David of Wales as a patron when they bear the name David at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on March 1. As a bishop, he is also remembered by clergy and those who serve the Church.
Prayer
O holy David of Wales, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.