Why This Cathedral Is Full of Dragons
How saints and dragons inspired me to write two fantasy books
Did you know there’s a Catholic church that people call the Dragon Church? And that inside — among the statues of saints, wooden pews, and stained-glass windows — you can find dragons everywhere?
🇳🇱 klik hier voor de Nederlandstalige versie!
The town of Saint-Pol-de-Léon lies on the northern coast of Brittany. I visited a few years ago and wandered through its medieval streets toward the cathedral. Like the town itself, it’s named after Saint Paul Aurelian — a Welsh monk who brought Christianity to Brittany in the early Middle Ages.
The Saint Who Tamed a Dragon
In the carved wood of one of the choir stalls, I noticed a striking scene:
a winged dragon lies at the feet of the saint, who holds it in check by looping his priest’s stole around its neck like a leash.
According to legend, the saint wanted to build a monastery on a nearby island but found it inhabited by a fierce dragon. He tamed the creature and commanded it to throw itself into the sea. Only then could Saint Pol safely begin his missionary work.
Scenes from this story appear throughout the church — hence its nickname, the Dragon Church.
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind being the parish priest there!
In those medieval legends, dragons often symbolize the evils missionaries encountered — things like human sacrifice, exploitation, or other forms of cruelty. Through the preaching of the Gospel, they sought to overcome such darkness.
Of Dragons and Monks
Dragons have always fired the imagination — including mine!
Since the beginning of this year, I’ve been working on two fantasy novels, both set in a Celtic-inspired world.
The first follows four young novices in the early Middle Ages who discover a magical art of storytelling within their monastery. Think Harry Potter meets monastic Ireland — and yes, they too end up crossing paths with dragons.
The second story features a team of young dragon riders protecting the citizens of a great city from powerful crime families.
Both are fantasy tales in the tradition of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis — exciting adventures layered with deeper meaning.
The second book already has a title: Dragon Patrol.
Starting this week, I’ll be publishing one chapter every week on my Substack.
Supporters who make this work possible also receive the audiobook version of each chapter as I release it.
You can become a supporter by subscribing on Substack or through my website.
Meet Me at LegendHaven
This weekend, I’ll be launching the Dragon Patrol project at LegendHaven, an online fantasy convention. I’ll also be moderating two panel discussions about fantasy, science fiction, and faith.
Tickets are only $10, giving you full access to all sessions throughout the weekend.
Get yours here: LegendHaven Tickets
Your contribution helps support many emerging authors who are trying to make the world a little brighter through their stories.
Daily “Inktober” Stories
For the past two weeks, I’ve been writing a new short story every day — inspired by Inktober, a month-long art challenge where each day has a new prompt word.
This year, I’ve been both drawing and writing: each ink sketch comes with its own tiny story.
You can read them all on my Substack. Here’s a taste:
The Brewer’s Debt
A monk trades a sacred chalice for a secret beer recipe. But some brews carry a cost beyond coin—and one sip may be enough to damn him. A dark monastic tale of thirst and consequence.
Finally, did you know that if you create a free Substack account, you can choose to receive my daily stories straight in your inbox? Just go to your settings and select which emails you’d like to get.
See you next time —
or maybe this weekend at LegendHaven!
Fr. Roderick Vonhögen
That’s an awesome cathedral! I’ve never heard that story before. I’ll hopefully be attending the LegendHaven convention. Hope to see everyone there!