Saint Budoc of Dol was a Bishop of Dol, venerated after his death as a saint in both Brittany and Devon. Saint Budoc is the patron of Plourin Ploudalmezeau in Finistère where his relics are preserved. His feast day was celebrated on 8 December, the date still used in Devon, but in Brittany this was moved to 9 December.
Name
The name Budoc, or Beuzec, means "saved from the waters" from the Breton beuziñ meaning "drown"; but Baring-Gould finds this "fanciful". In old Celtic, boudi means "victory" and "profit,"
Life
Baring-Gould suggests that the princess Azenor fled Brittany with her young son due to dynastic conflict. Arriving first in Cornwall, they then proceeded to Ireland, where Budoc became a monk. They later returned to Brittany, landing at Porspoder near Brest. Hagiographer G.H. Doble is of the opinion that Budoc was a once famous abbot whose chief establishment was on the Breton coast. The vita of Breton Saint Winwaloe describes Budoc as a teacher living on the island of Laurea. Later Budoc succeeded Saint Samson and Magloire as bishop of Dol and ruled for 26 years. Baring-Gould distinguishes between the abbot Budoc and the successor to bishop Magloire at Dol.
Legend
Budoc is reputed to have been grandson of the King Even of Brest. His mother, Princess Azenor of Brest, had been falsely accused of infidelity by her jealous stepmother, who had thrown the pregnant Azenor into the sea in a cask. Azenor invoked the help of Saint Brigid. The cask drifted for five months. Shorty after Azenor's baby was born, the cask washed ashore on the coast of Ireland.The story echoes the Greek myth regarding the young Perseus. A villager summoned the abbot of Beau Port, near Waterford, and the child was christened the next day. Azenor became the washer-woman of the monastery, and Budoc was raised there. Azenor's stepmother fell ill, and upon her deathbed she recanted the evil lies she had spread. Azenor's husband sailed in search of Azenor, and arriving in Ireland, the couple was reconciled, but both died before they could return to Brittany.. Budoc became a monk. He eventually left Ireland, sailing in a stone trough that landed at Porspoder.
Budoc is reputed to have sailed across the Plymouth Sound, until he found an inlet on the Devon side of the River Tamar. He landed in Budshead Creek, part of the present district of Plymouth called St Budeaux. His supposed activity suggests the foundation of an early church in Plymouth. However, there is no evidence of the name in Devon prior to the 16th century. There is also an ancient church said to have been dedicated by him at Budock in Cornwall, and there was once one in Oxford too. Saint Budoc's feast day is celebrated in Devon on 8 December.
Troparion of Saint Budoc
Thou wast miraculously preserved from the ocean's fury
