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Also known as
Petrock; Pedrog; Perreux; Petrocus
Memorial: 4 June
Profile
Younger son of King Glywys. On his father's death, the people of Glywysing
called for Petroc to take the crown of one the country's sub-divisions,
but Petroc wanted a religious life, and went to study in Ireland.
Several years later he returned to Britain, landing on the River Camel in
Cornwall. Directed by Saint Samson to the hermitage of Saint Wethnoc.
Wethnoc agreed to give his cell to Petroc in order that he could found a
monastery on the site.
After 30 years as abbot, Petroc made a pilgrimage to Rome. On his return,
just as he reached Newton Saint Petroc, it began to rain. Petroc predicted
it would soon stop, but it rained for three days. In penance for presuming
to predict God's weather, Petroc returned to Rome, then to Jerusalem, then
to India where he lived 7 years on an island in the Indian Ocean.
Petroc returned to Britain with a wolf companion he had met in India.
Founded churches at Saint Petrox and Llanbedrog. In Cornwall, with the
help of Saint Wethnoc and Saint Samson, he defeated a mighty serpent that
King Teudar of Penwith had used to devour his enemies. He then left his
monastery at Llanwethinoc to live as a hermit in the woods at Nanceventon,
some fellow monks following his example at Vallis Fontis. While in the
wilderness, a hunted deer sought shelter in Saint Petroc's cell. Petroc
protected it from the hunter, King Constantine of Dumnonia, and converted
the king to Christianity in the bargain.
Petroc later moved deep into the Cornish countryside, encountering the
hermit Saint Guron. Guron moved south allowing Petroc, with the backing of
King Constantine, to establish a monastery called Bothmena (the Abode of
Monks) at the site of the hermitage.
Died
c.594 at Treravel of natural causes while on the road; buried at Padstow;
remains later returned to the monastery Bothmena
Name Meaning
noble ("Petroc" is probably a variant of "Patrick")
Patronage
Cornwall
Representation
bishop holding a church; bishop with a stag
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