Michael Brooks
Saint Valentine is recognised by the Catholic Church as a saint, although he was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 due to a lack of reliable information about him. He is the patron saint of lovers, people with epilepsy and beekeepers. Saint Valentine was a clergyman – either a priest or a bishop – in the Roman Empire who ministered to persecuted Christians. He was martyred and his body buried on the Via Flaminia on 14 February, which has been observed as the Feast of Saint Valentine (Valentine's Day) since at least the eighth century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Saints Valentine | 1 or 2, possibly 3 |
| Profession | Clergyman, either a priest or a bishop, possibly a physician |
| Place | Rome, Italy |
| Date of Death | 269, 270, 273 or 280 |
| Feast Day | February 14 (Western Christianity), July 6 (Eastern Orthodoxy) |
| Patron Saint of | Lovers, people with epilepsy, beekeepers, Terni |
| Legends | Secretly married Christian couples, converted the daughter of Judge Asterius to Christianity, refused to sacrifice to pagan gods |
| Relics | Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome, Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Prague, Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin, Old St. Ferdinand Shrine in Florissant, Missouri |
| Removal from General Roman Calendar | 1969, due to lack of reliable information |
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What You'll Learn
St Valentine was a priest or bishop
Saint Valentine was a 3rd-century Roman saint, commemorated in Western Christianity on February 14 and in Eastern Orthodoxy on July 6. Saint Valentine was a clergyman – either a priest or a bishop – in the Roman Empire who ministered to persecuted Christians.
Some accounts describe Saint Valentine as a Roman priest and physician who was martyred during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus around 270 CE. He was buried on the Via Flaminia, and Pope Julius I reportedly built a basilica over his grave. According to the Nuremberg Chronicle, Saint Valentine was a priest of exceptional learning who converted the daughter of Asterius and forty-nine others to Christianity before being martyred during the reign of Claudius Gothicus.
Other narratives identify Saint Valentine as the bishop of Terni, Italy, who was martyred in Rome, and whose relics were later taken to Terni. According to the official biography of the Diocese of Terni, Bishop Valentine was born and lived in Interamna (modern-day Terni, Italy) and was imprisoned, tortured, and martyred in Rome on February 14, 269. His body was buried at a nearby cemetery, and a few nights later, his disciples retrieved his body and returned him home.
The true origins of Saint Valentine have been widely debated, with various stories claiming that he was either a priest or a bishop in Rome who was executed for performing illegal marriages for Christian lovers. It is possible that there were multiple Saint Valentines who died on February 14 in the 3rd century, and the different accounts may refer to a single person.
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He was martyred in Rome
St. Valentine was a 3rd-century Roman saint, widely celebrated on February 14. He is recognised as a martyr in the Catholic Church, and was included in the General Roman Calendar for celebration until 1969, when he was removed due to a lack of reliable information about him.
St Valentine was a clergyman—either a priest or a bishop—in the Roman Empire who ministered to persecuted Christians. He was sent to Rome under the emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II). According to the Nuremberg Chronicle, St Valentine was a Roman priest martyred during Claudius' reign. He was imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and aiding Christians being persecuted by Claudius in Rome, both considered serious crimes.
St Valentine was eventually sentenced to death by the emperor, who commanded him to renounce his faith or be beaten and beheaded. St Valentine refused to renounce his faith and was executed outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269. He was buried on the Via Flaminia, and Pope Julius I reportedly built a basilica over his grave.
Other narratives identify St Valentine as the bishop of Terni, Italy, who was also martyred in Rome, and whose relics were later taken to Terni. 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.
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St Valentine is recognised by the Catholic Church
One St Valentine was a Roman priest who was martyred during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II) around 270 CE. He was imprisoned and beaten for aiding Christians and marrying Christian couples, serious crimes in the eyes of the emperor. He was then beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate on 14 February 269 CE, leaving a note for the jailer's daughter, whose eyesight he had restored, signed "From your Valentine".
Another St Valentine was the bishop of Interamna (modern-day Terni, Italy). He was also martyred in Rome and is buried on the Via Flaminia, though at a different distance from the city than the priest.
A third St Valentine was said to be a saint who suffered on the same day as a number of companions in the Roman province of Africa, though nothing else is known about him.
The legends surrounding St Valentine are numerous and inconsistent. One legend claims that he cut hearts from parchment, giving them to persecuted Christians, which may be the origin of the widespread use of hearts on St Valentine's Day.
St Valentine's Day has been celebrated since at least the eighth century, and the romantic nature of the holiday may have originated in the Middle Ages when it was believed that birds paired couples in mid-February. The day was celebrated in literature by Geoffrey Chaucer in "The Parliament of Fowles" and later by poets John Gower, Lydgate, and Clauvowe.
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He is the patron saint of lovers
St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers, as well as people with epilepsy and beekeepers. The legends attributed to the mysterious saint are inconsistent, and it is not known whether he was one man or two.
One legend states that St. Valentine was a Roman priest who was martyred during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus around 270 CE. He was imprisoned for aiding Christians and marrying Christian couples in secret, allowing the husbands to escape conscription into the Roman army. He was buried on the Via Flaminia, and Pope Julius I is said to have built a basilica over his grave.
Another narrative identifies him as the former Bishop of Terni, Narnia, and Amelia, who was martyred in Rome. According to this legend, St. Valentine was presented with the blind daughter of Judge Asterius and told to restore her sight. He succeeded, and in return, the judge and his entire household of 44 people were baptised. St. Valentine was later arrested again for trying to convert people to Christianity and was beaten and beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269. Before his execution, he left a note for the girl whose sight he had restored, signing it "From your Valentine".
The romantic nature of Valentine's Day may have originated during the Middle Ages, when it was believed that birds paired up in mid-February. This belief was immortalised by the poet Geoffrey Chaucer in his poem "The Parliament of Fowles".
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Legends surround St Valentine's life
St Valentine was a 3rd-century Roman saint, commonly associated with "courtly love". However, very little is known about his life and whether the stories involve two different saints with the same name is also unclear. Nonetheless, it is widely agreed that St Valentine was martyred and then buried on the Via Flaminia to the north of Rome.
The legends attributed to St Valentine include one that identifies him as a Roman priest and physician who was martyred during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus around 270 CE. He was imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and aiding Christians being persecuted by Claudius in Rome, both acts considered serious crimes. Another narrative identifies him as the former Bishop of Terni, Narnia, and Amelia, who was on house arrest with Judge Asterius. While discussing religion and faith with the Judge, Valentine pledged the validity of Jesus. The judge immediately tested Valentine by presenting him with his blind daughter and telling him to restore her sight. Valentine succeeded and the judge obeyed his requests, becoming a faithful Christian.
Other legends claim that St Valentine was condemned to death for marrying Christian soldiers in secret. At the time, it was illegal for soldiers to be married as Rome believed unmarried men fought more fearlessly. After refusing to renounce his faith, he was sentenced to death and beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate of Rome on 14 February around 269 AD. Another variation of the legend says he refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, was imprisoned, and healed the jailer's blind daughter. On the day of his execution, he left the girl a note signed "Your Valentine".
St Valentine is also said to have cut hearts from parchment to remind persecuted Christians of their vows and God's love, which may be the origin of the widespread use of hearts on Valentine's Day.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, St. Valentine is recognised by the Catholic Church as a saint.
St. Valentine was removed from the General Roman Calendar due to a lack of reliable information about him.
St. Valentine was a Roman priest or bishop who was martyred for his Christian faith. He is often associated with courtly love and is the patron saint of lovers, people with epilepsy, and beekeepers.
February 14th is believed to be the day of St. Valentine's martyrdom and is celebrated as St. Valentine's Day in Western Christianity.
