圣德温教堂的废墟，莫纳岛，威尔士，英国 Ruins of St. Dwynwen's Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales, United Kingdom (© Photos by R A Kearton/Getty Images)

圣德温教堂的废墟，莫纳岛，威尔士，英国 Ruins of St. Dwynwen's Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales, United Kingdom (© Photos by R A Kearton/Getty Images)

通往过去的入口 A portal to the past

圣德温节

兰德温岛是英国威尔士安格尔西岛（又名莫纳岛）西海岸外的一个田园诗歌般的小岛。该岛与恋人的守护神圣德温有着深厚的渊源，这一点从岛名上便可窥见一斑：“兰德温”的意思是 “德温的教堂”。据说在五世纪时，德温公主在经历了一段悲惨的恋情后，来到这座岛上寻求慰藉，随后便隐居于此。当时这位年轻的公主爱上了一位平民，但由于她的国王父亲禁止他们在一起，德温公主便暂时将她的爱人变成了一块冰，然后搬到了这座岛上，并建立了一个修道院。她毕生致力于修行，过着隐士般的生活，帮助人们解决情感问题。德温教堂的遗迹、一口水井和修道院的废墟都是德温公主在这座岛上生活过的证明。1月25日圣德温节被视为威尔士最浪漫的日子，因为它是威尔士的情人节。

Ruins of St. Dwynwen's Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Wales

Ynys Llanddwyn is a tiny tidal island which, at low tide, is attached to the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. Ynys means 'island' in Welsh and Llanddwyn means 'the church of Dwynwen,' the country's patron saint of lovers.

Legend has it that Dwynwen, a 5th-century Welsh princess, sought solace on this island after a tragic love story. The young woman fell in love with a commoner, but because her royal father forbade the union—and briefly turned her beloved into a block of ice—she moved to the island and set up a convent. She dedicated her life to spirituality, living as a hermit and helping others with matters of the heart. The ruins of Dwynwen's church, a well, and a convent remain on Ynys Llanddwyn and St. Dwynwen's Day, on January 25, is the most romantic day in Wales—the country's very own Valentine's Day.