Mabsant

'Patron Saint'


Son of Caw, one of twenty brothers, and one of Arthur's warriors found in the Welsh Culhwch and Olwen.

Notes
Sant is Medieval Welsh for saint, a title which was sparingly used. It is said churches were dedicated to Welsh and Irish saints between 500 and 800, to Saint Michael and some of the Apostles from 800 to 1000, and to Saint Mary and others in the 12th century.

Gwynfardd Brycheiniog (flourished about 1170-80) was a Welsh poet, noted for his eulogies in praise of Lord Rhys and Saint David. He used the word Mabsant, the typical holy man of the parish, in a eulogy of the Welsh patron saint ('Canu y Dewi').