On February 14th, in the year 269 A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed at the Flaminian Gate in People’s Square.

Under the rule of Claudius the Cruel, Rome was involved in many unpopular and bloody campaigns. The Emperor had to maintain a strong army, but was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. Claudius Gothicus believed that Roman men were unwilling to join the army because of their strong attachment to their wives and families.

To get rid of the problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.

Valentine’s actions were discovered and Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Valentine was under House Arrest at Judge Asterius’s home prior to being dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to ensure he was dead, had his head cut off. The sentence was carried out on February 14th, 269 A.D.  His body was hastily buried at a nearby cemetery and a few nights later his disciples retrieved his body and returned him home.  One legend states that it was while under House Arrest, St. Valentine left a farewell note for Judge Asterius’s daughter, who he had allegedly cured of blindness and had become his friend, he signed it “From Your Valentine.”

The flower-adorned skull of St. Valentine is on display in the side altar on the left side of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. Other pieces of the Saint’s  skeleton are on display in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Scotland, England and France.

There are many legends and many St. Valentine’s. The name was popular between the 2nd & 8th centuries A.D. The Catholic Encyclopedia lists three St. Valentine’s at that time and all of them were martyrs. There was even a Pope Valentine, though little is known about him except that he served a mere 40 days around A.D. 827.

St. Valentine is the patron Saint of Lovers, Epileptics & Bee Keepers.

So how did St. Valentine become associated with romance? The ancient pagan festival of Lupercalia was held each year in Rome on February 13th – 15th. Some historians believe the Valentine‘s holiday is actually an offshoot of Lupercalia. Unlike Valentine’s Day, however, Lupercalia was a bloody, violent and sexually-charged celebration awash with animal sacrifice, random matchmaking and coupling in the hopes of warding off evil spirits, purifying the city, releasing health and fertility. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day as the official celebration.  Over time, nakedness during Lupercalia lost popularity. The festival gradually became more chaste up to today, when February 14th is a date for exchanging love messages, poems and simple gifts such as flowers and chocolates.#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#StValentine,#February14th,#ClaudiusII,#Lupercalia,#Catholic,#Pagan,#Christian,#Execution,#Love,#Romance,#BeMyValentine,#2021,#SocialDistancing,#BeSafe,#StaySafe