Saint Petroc

The earliest Life of Petroc states that he was a younger son of an unnamed Welsh chieftain: the twelfth century version known as the Gotha Life, written at Bodmin, identifies that king as Glywys of Glywysing (Orme 2000, p. 215) and Petroc as a brother of Gwynllyw and uncle of Cadoc. He studied in Ireland, where later he is said to have been the teacher of Kevin of Glendalough. Petroc ministered throughout Dumnonia, which centred in Dewnans (Devon), and included Kernow (Cornwall), Somerset and Dorset. He also served in Brittany. Petroc founded churches in Little Petherick and in many parts of Britain, Wales and Brittany. He is said to have converted Constantine of Cornwall to Christianity by saving a deer Constantine was hunting. ==Veneration==

With Piran and Michael, he is one of the patron saints of Cornwall. He was described by Thomas Fuller as "the captain of Cornish saints". Humility is a virtue strongly associated with Petroc. One of the pervasive stories about this describes his return from the pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem. As he set foot home in Britain under a heavy rain, he confidently told his companions that it would clear up by morning. Instead, the downpour lasted for many days and Petroc, ashamed of his presumptuousness, is said to have left on another pilgrimage, this one of penance. A list in the Leofric missal and another manuscript list in Exeter Cathedral record that the cathedral possessed relics of the saint. It is likely that they had been presented by King Athelstan. Petroc is remembered in the Church of England with a commemoration on 4 June. ==Legacy==

• Saint-Perreux in Brittany is named for him. • The Flag of Devon is dedicated to Saint Petroc. Designed by Ryan Sealey, it was the winner of a competition organised by the BBC in 2003. It has been used by residents and, since October 2006, by Devon County Council. • St Petrock's (Exeter) is a charity working with people who are homeless and vulnerably housed in Devon. • The St. Petroc's Society is a charity working to address homelessness in Cornwall. • St Petroc's Orthodox Monastery in Tasmania, which used the Sarum Rite, was named after him from 1992 until its closure in 2012. • The 2008 merger of North Devon College and East Devon College led to them being re-branded under the name Petroc College in 2009. ==See also==