St Cyor’s Holy Well, Luxulyan

St Cyor’s holy well is set in a separate enclosure just downhill from the parish church which is dedicated to St Julitta and St Cyriacus. The granite enclosure is down a few steps and ed by surrounded by walls. There’s a stone bench to sit and contemplate next to the granite well house. This was restored and is in good order but sadly the well has been dry for decades and it’s thought the building of the railway disrupted the water flow, drying the well. I knew this before going so wasn’t especially expectant. How wrong I was!

The enclosure is peaceful. It feels sacred and holy even though it is adjoining a property and lane. I could smell fresh mint in the air and it felt fragrant and sweet. As I closed my eyes to pray I see royal blue, like a fabric laid down where the water would have been. It seems to pulsate with life and I sense this spiritual life of God is still active but flowing underground. It feels like the river of life and so I prayed that it would no longer be hidden. I had the strangest feeling that as I sat by the well entrance it was as though my legs up to the knees were immersed in water. The sense of this place spiritually was very similar to the well of St Keyne I’d visited previously.

It’s not really known why this is dedicated to St Cyor who was the son of St Julitta. They were very early Christians in the 300AD but living in Tarsus in the Mediterranean. Both were martyred, so it’s unlikely they came to this village. However, one of the possible origins of the name Luxulyan is Lossulyan which suggests the church was founded by St Sulian a Celtic Christian who accompanied St Samson on his travels. To me this is highly likely as Sampson is associated with nearby Golant. The church is certainly on a raised circular enclosure. We did go into the church but found we didn't want to linger there.