Australian National University - REPORTER - Saints and beheadings: the bloody origins of Valentine’s Day; Independent - St Valentine history: Who was the Roman saint and why is he associated with love? Learn Religion - Saint Valentine's Story; Ancient Origins - The ‘Real’ St. Valentine Was No Patron of Love The Feast of Saint Valentine, also known as Saint Valentine's Day, was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496 to be celebrated on February 14 in honour of the Christian martyr. [41] A shrine of Saint Valentine in Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. February 14 is Saint Valentine's Day in the Lutheran calendar of saints. [12] However, other tales of St. Valentine's life claim he was executed either in the year 269, 270, 273 or 280. Other depictions of St. Valentine's arrests tell that he secretly married couples so husbands wouldn't have to go to war. St. Valentine, patron saint of Terni, Italy. In the Italian city of Terni, Catholics look forward to February 14 as the feast day of St. Valentine, their city’s patron saint, whose relics are interred in their city’s cathedral. According to the ancient hagiographical legends, St. Valentine lived between 175 and 245. Two Valentines are listed in the Roman Martyrology for February 14. The first Saint Valentine was a Roman priest who reportedly was martyred on the Flaminian Way during the reign of the Emperor Claudius. The other Saint Valentine was a third-century bishop of Terni who was martyred in Rome but whose relics were sent back to his home see. The popular customs connected with Saint Valentine’s Day undoubtedly had their origin in a conventional belief generally received in England and France during the Middle Ages, that on February 14, i.e. half way through the second month of the year, the birds began to pair. Thus in Chaucer’s “Parliament of Foules” we read: St. Valentine Feast day: Feb 14 The love of God reigns in the hearts of all saints, but there is one who has the joy of being the patron saint of lovers: St. Valentine. Saint Valentine's Legacy and Holiday. Saint Valentine was executed on February 14, around the year 269 AD. Over time, this date became associated with celebrating love and affection, leading to the modern Valentine's Day holiday. The patron saint of love and happy marriages, among other things, Saint Valentine was a 3rd-century Roman saint. His feast day, of course, is Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day. But who was he? First, let’s just say his feast day doesn’t refer to consuming chocolate or fancy dinners out, but rather a tradition of courtly love. And the identity The first St. Valentine was a priest and physician in Rome. He along with St. Marius and his family comforted the martyrs during the persecution of Emperor Claudius II, the Goth. Eventually, St. Valentine was also arrested, condemned to death for his faith, beaten with clubs, and finally beheaded on Feb. 14, AD 270. Two Valentines are listed in the Roman Martyrology for February 14. The first Saint Valentine was a Roman priest who reportedly was martyred on the Flaminian Way during the reign of the Emperor Claudius. The other Saint Valentine was a third-century bishop of Terni who was martyred in Rome but whose relics were sent back to his home see. St. Valentine. Valentine’s Day is rooted in the feast day of St. Valentine which honors the martyrs as explained below. When is Valentine’s Day? It is always celebrated on February fourteenth. Learn more about the Communion of Saints and How the Saints Pray for You. In most artistic pieces, St. Valentine is often accompanied by roses and birds. Valentine’s day feast was established in 496 AD by Pope Gelasius; Prayer to St. Valentine. Dear Saint and glorious martyr, Teach us to love unselfishly and to find great joy in giving. Enable all true lovers to bring out the best in each other. The story of St. Valentine has much legend and myth surrounding it and the origin of Valentine's Day. We run into problems immediately when we attempt to identify the personhood of Valentine. Although we do have a story of one Valentine above – most likely the most accurate story about the Saint – we have three separate Valentine saints in history, all martyrs. The popular customs of showing love and affection on St. Valentine’s Day is almost a coincidence with the feast day of the saint: During the Medieval Age, a common belief in England and France was that birds began to pair on Feb.14, “half-way through the second month of the year.” The Origins of Saint Valentine and Valentine’s Day Where Did Valentine’s Day Come from in Ireland? Though Ireland didn’t invent Valentine’s Day, it has become an unexpected keeper of its legend thanks to the relics in Dublin. How Did St. Valentine’s Day Originate? The origins of Valentine’s Day are murky, but the most popular story The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre was the murder of seven members and associates of Chicago's North Side Gang on Saint Valentine's Day 1929. The men were gathered at a Lincoln Park, Chicago , garage on the morning of February 14, 1929. The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre shocked the world on February 14, 1929, when Chicago’s North Side erupted in gang violence. Seven men associated with the Irish gangster George “Bugs The gift was taken to Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland, where it remains. The church continues to be a popular place of pilgrimage, especially for those seeking love on St. Valentine’s Day. 6. He is the patron saint of epilepsy. St. Valentine’s holy duties are not limited to interceding in loving couples and marriages. Saint Valentine’s legacy is most prominently reflected in Valentine’s Day, celebrated on February 14th each year, a day now synonymous with love and affection worldwide. Despite the historical ambiguities surrounding his life, he has become the patron saint of lovers, as well as of beekeepers, epileptics, and travelers.
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