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In the 12th Century Pope Calixtus II declared St Davids Cathedral to be a place of pilgrimage.  It was at this time that a medieval shrine to St David was constructed and situated in the presbytery, close to the High Altar.  Pope Calixtus II also stated that the shrine was so important that two pilrimages to St. Davids were equivalent to one to Rome, three were equivalent to one to Jerusalem.  Since then the path of pilgrimage has been trodden by hundreds of thousands of individuals.  The destruction of the shrine during the Reformation caused a steep decline in this important religious practice.  However throughout the periods of religious and political turmoil pilgrims have continued to visit the site and we have been pleased to be able to provide self catering accommodation to some of them.
St David's Shrine
In late 2010 The "Friends of St Davids Cathedral" were asked by the Dean to raise funds  for the restoration of the shrine.  It is hoped it will be fully restored and dedicated by St. David's Day 2012.  If you would like to make a donation to this appeal - no matter how small - please visit: http://www.justgiving.com/friendsofstdavids/Donate. 

About St. David
David was born in the year 500, the son of St. Non and a prince of Ceredigion.  Legend states that Non gave birth to him on a cliff top during a violent storm.  The Cathedral stands on the site of the monastery he founded in the inhospitable area known as "Glyn Rhosyn".  David and his followers lived a simple life; they refrained from eating meat or drinking beer.  David's symbol, now a national symbol, is the leek.
St David

David rose to become a Bishop in the Church and made several pilgrimages including one to Jerusalem during which, tradition states, brought back with him a stone, which now sits in an altar in the South Transept of the Cathedral.

The best known miracle associated with David is said to have taken place when he was preaching in the middle of a large crowd in the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi.  When those at the back complained that they could not hear him, the ground on which he stood is reputed to have risen up to form a small hill so that everyone had a good view.  A white dove settled on his shoulder, a sign of God's grace and blessing.
David died in the year 589 and the monastery is said to have been "filled with angels as Christ received his soul".  His final words to his followers were: "Be Joyful. Keep the Faith. Do the little things that you have heard and seen me do".  David was buried in the Cathedral and his relics are currently located in a niche in the Holy Trinity Chapel.