¹ Here begins the Life of Saint Carannog, Confessor, on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of June.

² His feast is to be reverenced by all people who believe in God. The blessed Carannog, son of Ceredig, was taken up to heaven. He sprang from illustrious parents and was exalted according to the dignity of the age, for his lineage may more readily be traced back to Mary, the mother of our Lord, than any king of the Britons may be accounted higher. Yet he did not aspire to earthly kingdoms. From the years of his childhood he preserved his innocence, and afterwards he went to the cave of Edilu, where he read the canonical lessons of the Old and New Testament. Then he went to Ireland, Patrick having gone before him, and they met one another and dwelt together, as it is said: “Look, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” [Psalm 133:1]. They took counsel together as to what they should do, and they agreed that they should separate, one going to the left and the other to the right, because many clerics were walking with them, and others because they sought health. Carannog went to the right part, and Patrick to the left, and they agreed that they should meet once each year. In those days the Scots overran Britain for thirty years, and the names of their generals were Briseus, Thuthaius, Machleius, and Anpachus.

³ In the year of the birth of Saint David, son of Sandde, Carannog was warmly received in Ireland, for it was not difficult for God to guide his servants. An angel of the Lord was sent to attend him in the form of a dove, and his name was changed, in the language of that land, to Cernach. Wherever his name was known, the churches and settlements of the region of Leinster were exalted under it, and wherever he went he performed, by God’s direction, innumerable miracles. He healed many thousands of people afflicted with diverse ailments: the blind, the lame, the mad, and others like them, whom God enriched with the highest rewards and dignities, to reign with blessed princes in heaven.

⁴ The works of the blessed Cernach are read throughout Ireland, just as the miracles of the blessed apostle Peter are read at Rome, and his life was perfect, equal to that of the apostles; as it is written, “Go and teach all nations” [Matthew 28:19], and the grace that was given to the apostles was fully present in him. “Whomsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven, and whomever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” [Matthew 18:18]. Such a man was to be feared and revered, who by good works was powerful before the highest throne and able to save bodies on earth. He was valiant and faithful, a promoter of peace, and in a wondrous manner like the angels. Under the sun he was a brave soldier, a marvellous spiritual leader and chief abbot, a patient teacher of faithfulness, proclaiming justice to all the righteous and preaching the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ He lived for many years free from sin, shunned crimes as they deserved, and rendered thanks to God in the highest. He poured forth countless prayers by day and by night, most fervent, holy, and life-giving. This is the beloved and aided Cernach, for he was heavenly, and divinely endowed with great gifts, to whom there was no decay appointed as to other mortals. He attained grace through great labour, pious and most pure, and this was most clearly shown by the parable of the candle, when the pastor of the Church wondrously bore the golden candlesticks of the sanctuary [Matthew 5:15; Luke 8:16]. O most abundant Shepherd, sevenfold in excellence, holy and most gentle, following Peter in the apostolic seat and Paul in doctrine, and bringing many lands to the faith. Saint Carannog converted regions of the Irish against the will of companies of magicians, and he was held in honour by kings.

⁶ Afterwards he returned again to his own country, Ceredigion, to his cave, with many clerics, and there he performed many miracles, which no one can number. Christ granted him from on high an honourable altar, the colour of which no one could comprehend; and later, when he came to the Severn to cross it, he cast the altar into the sea, and it went before him wherever God willed it to go.

⁷ At that time Cato and Arthur lived in that land, dwelling at Dindrarthou. Arthur was seeking a serpent of great power, size, and terror, which was laying waste twelve portions of the land of Carrum. Carannog came and greeted Arthur, who rejoiced and received his blessing. Carannog then asked Arthur whether he had heard where his altar had come ashore. Arthur replied, “If I am paid for it, I will tell you.” Carannog said, “What do you require to be done?” He answered, “That you should lead the serpent which is near you, and then we shall see whether you are a servant of God.”

⁸ Then the blessed Carannog went and prayed to the Lord, and immediately the serpent came with a great noise, running like a calf to its mother. It bowed its head before the servant of God, like an obedient servant before its master, with a humble heart and downcast eyes. He placed his cloak about its neck and led it like a lamb, and it did not raise its wings or claws. Its neck was like that of a bull seven years old, so that the cloak could scarcely go around it.

⁹ They then went together to the fortress to greet Cato, and they were received kindly by him. Carannog brought the serpent into the middle of the hall, intending to feed it before the people. They tried to kill it, but he would not allow them, saying that it had come by the word of God to destroy the sinners who were in Carrum, and to show the power of God through it. Afterwards he went outside the gate of the fortress and released it, commanding as it departed that it should harm no one and never return; and it injured no one, as God had commanded.

¹⁰ When the altar was recovered, Arthur intended to make it into a table, but whatever was placed upon it was thrown off to some distance. The king then asked Carannog to receive Carrum for ever by written grant, and afterwards he built a church there. Subsequently a voice came to Carannog from heaven, directing him to place the altar in the sea. He sent Cato and Arthur to enquire about the altar, and they were told that it had landed in the harbour of Guellit. The king said, “I will again give twelve portions of land where the altar may be found.” Afterwards Carannog came and built a church there, and the settlement was called Carron.

¹¹ Then a voice came to him from heaven, telling him that he should go into exile and leave his kindred. Countless people were buried in that city, whose names are not recorded. He alone went to Ireland, and he was buried on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of June, in his renowned city, the chief of all his cities, which is called the city of Chernach. He departed in peace, and left peace, and found peace, as it is written: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” [Matthew 5:9]. And again the prophet says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” [Psalm 116:15].

¹² He remembered that the substance of this bodily world is frail, and that all things, though now fair, are corruptible. It is emptier than a hollow tube, yet it has ensnared many people. “O truly happy life, worthy of the God of gifts; O truly blessed man, in whom there was no deceit: judging no one, despising no one, rendering evil for evil to no one, often weeping for blasphemers; and now he remains spotless, in joy and glory, among the hosts of angels for ever and ever. Amen.”