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{{Short description|6th century Welsh church council}}
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{{History of Celtic Christianity}}
The '''Synod of Brefi''' was a church council held at [[Llanddewi Brefi]] in [[Ceredigion]], [[Wales]], around 545.<ref name=Cardiff>[https://rcadc.org/history/ "History of the Diocese", Archdiocese of Cardiff]</ref>

The [[synod]] was apparently called in order to condemn the [[heresy|heretical]] teachings of  [[Pelagius (British monk)|Pelagius]]. It was an important milestone in the rise of [[Saint David]]. It was [[Paulinus of Wales|Paulinus]] who advised Saint [[Dubricius]], the senior bishop there, to invite David, a minor abbot, to the synod.<ref>[https://biography.wales/article/s-PAUL-SAN-0500 Emanuel, Hywel David, "Paulinus (Peulin), saint, fl. late 5th century", ''Dictionary of Welsh Biography'', 1959]</ref> David kept aloof from all temporal concerns and was initially reluctant to attend.<ref>Baring-Gould, Sabine. "Saint David", ''Lives of the Saints''</ref> St David's Church, [[Llanddewi Brefi]] is the site associated with St David's best known miracle, when, according to tradition, the ground rose up under his feet as he addressed the large crowd so that he could be heard better.<ref>[https://www.discoverceredigion.wales/heritage-and-culture-to-explore/the-story-of-ceredigion/ceredigion-the-age-of-saints/ "The age of saints in Ceredigion", Discover Ceredigion, Ceredigion County Council, 2023]</ref> 

According to legend, David's words were so eloquent that Dubricius retired in David's favour. <ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04640b.htm Toke, Leslie. "St. David." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 2 January 2023 {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name=Cardiff/>

One of his first duties was to consecrate Saint [[Deiniol]] as [[Bishop of Bangor]]. It is also said that the synod was called while Saint [[Cadoc]], Abbot of [[Llancarfan Abbey|Llancarfan]], was away in [[Brittany]]. In disgust, he refused to return for many years.

[[Cybi|Saint Cybi]] is said to have attended the Synod<ref>[https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/C/cybi.html "Cybi", ''The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature''. (James Strong and John McClintock, eds.) Harper and Brothers; NY; 1880]</ref> and advised some pilgrims on their journey to Ynys Enlli ([[Bardsey Island|Bardsey]]).

The Brefi synod was followed by the "[[Synod of Victory]]" at [[Caerleon]] around 569.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:560]]
[[Category:6th century in Wales]]
[[Category:History of Ceredigion]]
[[Category:History of Christianity in Wales]]
[[Category:Celtic Christianity]]
[[Category:6th-century church councils]]
[[Category:Heresy in Christianity in the Middle Ages]]


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