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What is the real story about Valentine's Day?
Turns out, it was a pretty common name during Late Antiquity. As far as anyone can tell, the Saint Valentine of Valentine's Day was one of two guys preaching the good word in Rome in the third century. One of these two was martyred on February 14th 269, thus giving us the date for his eponymous day.
When did St Valentine live and die?
St. Valentine, (died 3rd century, Rome; feast day February 14), name of one or two legendary Christian martyrs whose lives seem to be historically based.
Who is the saint of love?
St. Valentine, the patron saint of love, was born in modern-day Italy around 175 AD. He was ordained a priest and later a bishop.
How many saints are there?
10,000 saintsThere are more than 10,000 saints recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, though the names and histories of some of these holy men and women have been lost to history. The saints of the church are a diverse group of people with varied and interesting stories.
What are 3 facts about St. Valentine?
10 Facts About Saint ValentineHe was a 3rd century Roman clergyman. ... He had the power of healing. ... “From Your Valentine” originates from a letter of his. ... His skull is on display in Rome. ... His blood was gifted by Pope Gregory XVI. ... He is the patron saint of epilepsy. ... He may have been two different people.More items...•
Why is Valentine's day on February 14th?
It is named after a saint: St. Valentine. Many believe the Valentine's Day tradition can be traced back to a Roman fertility festival known as Lupercalia. Some people also think that Valentine's Day marks the death anniversary of Saint Valentine, who died on February 14 in 270 AD.
Why is February 14th a holiday?
Valentine's Day, also called St. Valentine's Day, holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. Given their similarities, it has been suggested that the holiday has origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February.
When was Valentine's day created?
Valentine's Day was actually designated by Pope Gelasius I in order to replace the ancient Roman festival Lupercalia, a celebration of fertility dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunas, and Roman founders Romulus and Remus. St. Valentine\'s day circa 1800.
Why was Valentine named a saint?
For his great service, Valentine was named a saint after his death.
When was Valentine executed?
On February 14, around the year 270 A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed.
When was Valentine's Day celebrated?
In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius decided to put an end to the Feast of Lupercalia, and he declared that February 14 be celebrated as St. Valentine’s Day. Gradually, February 14 became a date for exchanging love messages, poems and simple gifts such as flowers. READ MORE: 6 Surprising Facts About St. Valentine.
Who ordered Valentine to be put to death?
When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. The sentence was carried out on February 14, on or about the year 270.
What is the significance of the martyr's name?
Legends vary on how the martyr’s name became connected with romance. The date of his death may have become mingled with the Feast of Lupercalia, a pagan festival of love. On these occasions, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.
What is the saint of Valentine?
Saint Valentine, the name of one or two legendary Christian martyrs whose lives seem to be historically based. Celebrated on February 14, Valentine is venerated as the patron saint of lovers, epileptics, and beekeepers. Learn more about the history and legends associated with Saint Valentine.
Why is Valentine's Day celebrated?
Valentine's Day. Another common legend states that St. Valentine defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare the husbands from war. It is for this reason that his feast day is associated with love.…. martyr.
When is Saint Valentine's Day?
Saint Valentine ( Italian: San Valentino; Latin: Valentinus) was a 3rd-century Roman saint, commemorated in Western Christianity on February 14 and in Eastern Orthodoxy on July 6. From the High Middle Ages his Saints' Day has been associated with a tradition of courtly love. He is also a patron saint of Terni, epilepsy and beekeepers.
Why was Valentine's Day created?
English 18th-century antiquarians Alban Butler and Francis Douce, noting the obscurity of Saint Valentine's identity, suggested that Saint Valentine's Day was created as an attempt to supersede the pagan holiday of Lupercalia (mid-February in Rome).
What happened to Valentinus when he tried to convert the Emperor?
However, when Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor, he was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stones; when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. Various dates are given for the martyrdom or martyrdoms: 269, 270, or 273. There are many other legends behind Saint Valentine.
Where was Bishop Valentine martyred?
Though the extant accounts of the martyrdoms of the first two listed saints are of a late date and contain legendary elements, a common nucleus of fact may underlie the two accounts and they may refer to a single person. According to the official biography of the Diocese of Terni, Bishop Valentine was born and lived in Interamna and while on a temporary stay in Rome he was imprisoned, tortured, and martyred there on February 14, 269. His body was hastily buried at a nearby cemetery and a few nights later his disciples retrieved his body and returned him home.
How many different saints are mentioned in the early martyrologies?
At least two different Saint Valentines are mentioned in the early martyrologies. For Saint Valentine of Rome, along with Saint Valentine of Terni, "abstracts of the acts of the two saints were in nearly every church and monastery of Europe", according to Professor Jack B. Oruch of the University of Kansas.
What is the significance of the legenda aurea of Jacobus de Voragine?
The Legenda Aurea of Jacobus de Voragine, compiled about 1260 and one of the most-read books of the High Middle Ages, gives sufficient details of the saints for each day of the liturgical year to inspire a homily on each occasion. The very brief vita of St Valentine states that he was executed for refusing to deny Christ by the order of the "Emperor Claudius" in the year 269. Before his head was cut off, this Valentine restored sight and hearing to the daughter of his jailer. Jacobus makes a play with the etymology of "Valentine", "as containing valor".
What is the meaning of "San Valentino"?
For other uses of "San Valentino", see San Valentino (disambiguation). Saint Valentine ( Italian: San Valentino; Latin: Valentinus) was a 3rd-century Roman saint, commemorated in Western Christianity on February 14 and in Eastern Orthodoxy on July 6.
Why did St. Valentine die?
Considering the current year is only 2021 AD it would have to be a future event! St Valentine died 14 Feb 269 AD because, apparently, he continued to perform marriages after they were banned by Emporer Claudius II.
Why was Saint Valentine arrested?
Actually we know very little about Saint Valentine. He is believed to have live during the 3rd century. One popular story says he was arrested for evangelizing and was sent to the prefect of Rome, and came before the emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II) himself. Claudius took a liking to him until Valentine tried to convince Claudius to convert to Christianity, whereupon Claudius refused and condemned Valentine to death, commanding that Valentine either renounce his faith or he would be beaten with clubs and beheaded. Valentine refused and Claudius' command was executed outside the Flaminia
Why do we fear death?
We all have attachments of all kinds, be it of relationships, property, money, social status even this body. The stroke of death ends all these attachments in one go. This is why we fear death. The more attached we are, the more we fear death. We tend to behave as if whatever we call ours will remain with us till eternity. However this is all an illusion. Death breaks this illusion and one realises that nothing or no one belongs to him/her. This is why death pains everyone. The whole imaginary world one creates around himself/herself comes crashing down with death. One realises the futility of all his/her efforts and emotions at the time of death when one sees that secret film/ Chitragupt but nothing can be done then. One can not go back and correct things, now one can only wait to get his/her karma settled in next life.
How did the name of the martyr become connected to romance?
Legends vary on how the martyr’s name became connected with romance. The date of his death may have become mingled with the Feast of Lupercalia, a pagan festival of love. On these occasions, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius decided to put an end to the Feast of Lupercalia, and he declared that February 14 be celebrated as St Valentine’s Day. Gradually, February 14 became a date for exchanging love messages, poems and simple gifts such as flowers.
Is death the only truth?
As they say, death is the only truth. No matter how creatively you build your imaginary world, one day it will force you to see the truth. If you can see and realise while still living that nobody or nothing is yours, you’ll not fear death. It’ll become like watching a new episode of the sop opera called life.
Who ordered Valentine to be put to death?
When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. The sentence was carried out on February 14, on or about the year 270.
Who was the holy priest who was executed?
On February 14, around the year 270A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II , was executed (Beheaded).
