St. Kew, Virgin of Cornwall

Commemorated on February 8

St. Kew the Virgin was a Welsh girl from Gwent, where she founded the church of Llangiwa. She was the sister of St. Dochau and traveled throughour Glastening (Somerset), founding the Church of Kewstoke on the way. She then moved on to Lannohou in Cerniw (Cornwall) to see her brother. However, Dochau would not see her until she had rid the region of a man-eating bear. She is said to have tamed the creature which then became her companion.

St. Kew was allowed to build herself a small hermitage and chapel near her brother’s monastery, but she wisely chose a site protected from attacks by wildlife. She died on February 8 in an unknown year and was subsequently remembered more fondly than her brother. The present village of St. Kew grew up around her church.

By permission of www.orthodoxwiki.org