Dunod was a 6th or 7th-century religious leader who served as the first abbot of the monastery at Bangor Iscoed in north-east Wales. Formerly a chieftain from North Britain, he relocated to Wales following changes in his fortune. He was married to Dwywai and fathered three sons, including Deiniol. He is historically significant as the only Welsh church official explicitly named in Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum.
Monastic life
With the support of Prince Cyngen Glodrydd, Dunod and his sons established the Bangor monastery on the River Dee. This community became a major religious hub, characterized by a continuous cycle of prayer known as the laus perennis. According to Welsh Triads, the monastery housed 2,400 monks who sang the Divine Service in shifts. The site was eventually destroyed around 613 following the Battle of Chester.
Historical accounts
Bede records that Dunod was the abbot during a meeting between Augustine of Canterbury and seven Welsh bishops in 602 or 603. While some scholars question if he personally attended due to his advanced age, the monastery sent delegates to the conference. Some traditions attempt to link him to a northern king, though this is considered chronologically improbable.
Veneration
Recognized as a saint in the Catholic tradition, his commemoration occurs on September 7. His memory is preserved in the local area, most notably through the naming of Ysgol Sant Dunawd, a primary school in Bangor-on-Dee.