St. Samson of Dol
A.D. 565
Feast Day: July 28

 St. Samsons life is a prime example of the wandering Celtic saints, who in their quest for solitude in pursuit of Christ led them to be inadvertent evangelists and missionaries. Samson was born in Wales and  in his childhood was sent to be educated at St. Illtyds community at Llantwit Major. There he was ordained a deacon. According to a 12th century life Illtyd and St. Dubricius, his ordaining bishop, saw a white dove descend and  rest on his shoulder during the ordination. Samson left Llantwit Major and established his own community on Caldey Island, off the southwest coast of Wales. A 7th century life tells of a visit to Caldey by Irish monks returning  from a pilgrimage to Rome. Samson accompanied them to Ireland and after a brief stay returned with an Irish chariot which carried him throughout his later journeys.

 Samsons reputation for personal holiness and the working of miraculous signs and wonders prompted many to seek his community. His need for solitude drove him to Cornwall. The 7th century life  tells of a confrontation with a pagan king who held the bronze age standing stones of the area in great awe. Samson took an iron instrument and incised a cross on one of the stones, a feat that Shirley Toulson rightly describes  as a near miracle in itself. His act was consistent with the Celtic practice of baptizing elements of pagan religion as Christian symbols.

 Samson left Cornwall for Brittany and established a new community at Dol. He was, with some reluctance consecrated bishop for the community. It was Samsons wish that his body be laid to rest in  his native Wales. Toulson relates that the 12th century life records that Samsons body was placed in a sarcophagus which a mighty wind wafted lightly across the sea, like a wild fowl in flight, till it came down and landed  safely like a ferry boat at the gate of Illtut.

*Most of the material on St. Samson was taken from Shirley Toulsons book, The Celtic Year (Element Press), pp. 185-7.