In a few days we celebrate Valentine's Day. Hearts and flowers have already made their appearance heralding the celebration of Valentine's Day like every year on February 14th. But who really was Saint Valentine and why is he considered a symbol and patron of lovers everywhere?
The truth about the Saint of lovers
The truth is that various stories are circulating regarding the life of the martyr Valentine, while it has not been clarified whether it is one or many martyr Valentines. Over the years, there have been various versions of Valentine's martyrdom on February 14, all of them with a clear reference to love and romance. We will refer to the two dominant versions of the legend.
One of the most popular hagiographic references wants Saint Valentine to be consecrated in the 3rd century AD in Rome. Secretly from the emperor, he married Christians, at a time when Christianity was being persecuted. He was arrested and sentenced to stoning, from which it is reported that he escaped and then his beheading followed.
The second version has the Saint of lovers healing the daughter of an Italian judge Asterius from blindness. Bishop Valentine's miracle is said to have caused the judge and his entire family to embrace Christianity, angering Emperor Claudius who sentenced him to death. And according to the legend, during his execution, the bishop allegedly wrote a handwritten letter to the girl he healed, signing "your Valentine".
Saint "Valentine" of the Orthodox
Today, Saint Valentine's Day is not an official holiday of the Orthodox Church, however, it has prevailed to be celebrated as the day of couples in love. For the Orthodox Church, Valentine's Day is February 13th, which commemorates the Holy Apostles Aquila and Priscilla, a pair of martyrs, while another Orthodox "Valentine" is Saint Hyacinth, who is celebrated on July 3rd.
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