Editing Valentine's Day (section)

== Saint Valentine ==
{{main|Saint Valentine}}

===History===
[[File:St-valentine 110921-01.jpg|thumb|Shrine of St. Valentine in [[Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church]] in Dublin, Ireland]]

Numerous early Christian martyrs were named [[Saint Valentine|Valentine]].<ref>Henry Ansgar Kelly, in ''Chaucer and the Cult of Saint Valentine'' (Leiden: Brill) 1986, accounts for these and further local Saints Valentine (Ch. 6 "The Genoese Saint Valentine and the observances of May") in arguing that Chaucer had an established tradition in mind, and (pp. 79 ff.) linking the Valentine in question to Valentine, first bishop of Genoa, the only Saint Valentine honoured with a feast in springtime, the season indicated by Chaucer. Valentine of Genoa was treated by [[Jacobus de Voragine|Jacobus of Verazze]] in his ''Chronicle of Genoa'' (Kelly p. 85).</ref> The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (''Valentinus presb. m. Romae'') and Valentine of Terni (''Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae'').<ref>''Oxford Dictionary of Saints'', ''s.v.'' "Valentine": "The [[Acta Sanctorum|Acts]] of both are unreliable, and the Bollandists assert that these two Valentines were in fact one and the same."</ref> Valentine of [[Rome]] was a priest in Rome who was martyred in 269 and was buried on the [[Via Flaminia]]. The relics of Saint Valentine were kept in the [[Catacombs of San Valentino|Church and Catacombs of San Valentino]] in Rome, which "remained an important pilgrim site throughout the Middle Ages until the relics of Saint Valentine were transferred to the church of [[Santa Prassede]] during the pontificate of [[Pope Nicholas IV|Nicholas IV]] [1288–1292]".<ref name="Matilda Webb 2001">Matilda Webb, The Churches and Catacombs of Early Christian Rome, 2001, Sussex Academic Press.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.novareinna.com/festive/saintval.html |publisher=novareinna.com |title=Saint Valentine's Day: Legend of the Saint |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205081733/http://www.novareinna.com/festive/saintval.html |archive-date=February 5, 2016 }}</ref> The flower-crowned skull of Saint Valentine is exhibited in the Basilica of [[Santa Maria in Cosmedin]], Rome. Other relics are found at [[Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church]] in Dublin, Ireland.<ref>{{cite book|last=Meera|first=Lester|title=Sacred Travels|year=2011|publisher=Adams Media|isbn=978-1440525469|url=https://archive.org/details/sacredtravels2750000lest}}</ref>

Valentine of Terni became bishop of [[Interamna Nahars|Interamna]] (now [[Terni]], in central Italy) and is said to have been martyred during the persecution under Emperor [[Aurelian]] in 273. He is buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location from Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (''Basilica di San Valentino''). Professor Jack B. Oruch of the University of Kansas notes that "abstracts of the acts of the two saints were in nearly every church and monastery of Europe."<ref name="Chapman">Alison Chapman. Patrons and Patron Saints in Early Modern English Literature. Routledge. pg. 122.</ref> A relic claimed to be Saint Valentine of Terni's head was preserved in the abbey of [[New Minster, Winchester]], and venerated.<ref name="ansgar"/>

The ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' speaks of a third saint named Valentine who was mentioned in early [[martyrology|martyrologies]] under date of February 14. He was martyred in Africa with a number of companions, but nothing more is known about him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Valentine |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15254a.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220035/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15254a.htm |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |publisher=newadvent.org}}</ref>

February 14 is celebrated as Saint Valentine's Day in various [[Christian denomination]]s; it has, for example, the rank of "commemoration" in the [[Calendar of saints (Church of England)|calendar of saints]] in the [[Anglican Communion]].<ref name="Anglican"/> The [[feast day]] of Saint Valentine is given in the [[Calendar of Saints (Lutheran)|calendar of saints]] of the [[Lutheran Church]].<ref name="Pfatteicher2008"/> In [[Mysterii Paschalis|the 1969 revision]] of the [[Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints]], the feast day of Saint Valentine on February 14 was relegated from the [[General Roman Calendar]] to particular (local or even national) calendars for the following reason: "Though the memorial of Saint Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, apart from his name, nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14."<ref>''Calendarium Romanum ex Decreto Sacrosancti Œcumenici Concilii Vaticani II Instauratum Auctoritate Pauli PP. VI Promulgatum'' (Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, MCMLXIX), p. 117.</ref> Therefore, as he remains within the [[Roman Martyrology]], he may be recognised optionally during mass outside of [[Christmastide]] and [[Eastertide]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Catholic Church |title=General Instruction of the Roman MissalMISSAL |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html |website=Vatican.va |publisher=Catholic Church |access-date=February 16, 2023 |location=Para 355 |archive-date=April 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421184003/http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html%23II._MASSES_FOR_THE_DEAD |url-status=live }}</ref>

The feast day is still celebrated in [[Balzan]] ([[Malta]]), where relics of the saint are claimed to be found, and also throughout the world by [[Traditionalist Catholics]] who follow the older, pre-[[Second Vatican Council]] calendar (see [[General Roman Calendar of 1960]]).

In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], Saint Valentine is recognized on [[July 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)|July 6]], on which [[Saint Valentine]], the Roman presbyter, is honoured; in addition, the Eastern Orthodox Church observes the feast of Hieromartyr Valentine, Bishop of Interamna, on [[July 30 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)|July 30]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravmir.com/st-valentines-day-legend-and-reality/|title=St. Valentine|work=pravmir.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116185820/http://www.pravmir.com/st-valentines-day-legend-and-reality/|archive-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stmarina.org/valentine.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525101359/http://www.stmarina.org/valentine.html|url-status=dead|title=Coptic Orthodox Church – From Where Valentine's Day Comes From|archivedate=May 25, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.happy-valentines-day-2014.com/2014/01/valentines-day-history-myths.html |title= Happy Valentine's Day History And Myths Behind It |url-status= usurped |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151017022328/http://www.happy-valentines-day-2014.com/2014/01/valentines-day-history-myths.html |archive-date= October 17, 2015 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

=== Legends ===
[[File:St-valentine-baptizing-st-lucilla-jacopo-bassano.jpg|thumb|left|''St Valentine baptizing St Lucilla'', [[Jacopo Bassano]].]]

J.C. Cooper, in ''The Dictionary of Christianity'', writes that Saint Valentine was "a priest of Rome who was imprisoned for succouring persecuted Christians."<ref name="JC Cooper 2013">J.C. Cooper, ''Dictionary of Christianity'', 2013, Routledge.</ref> Contemporary records of Saint Valentine were most probably destroyed during this [[Diocletianic Persecution]] in the early 4th century.<ref name="oruch"/> In the 5th or 6th century, a work called ''Passio Marii et Marthae'' published a story of martyrdom for Saint Valentine of Rome, perhaps by borrowing tortures that happened to other saints, as was usual in the literature of that period.<ref name="oruch"/><ref name="ansgar49"/>

The same events are found in ''[[Bede|Bede's Martyrology]]'', which was compiled in the 8th century.<ref name="oruch"/><ref name="ansgar49">Ansgar, 1986, pp. 49–50</ref> It states that Saint Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by [[Roman Emperor]] [[Claudius Gothicus|Claudius II]] in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman [[paganism]] in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing Julia, the blind daughter of his jailer Asterius. The jailer's daughter and his forty-six member [[household]], family members and servants, came to believe in [[Jesus]] and were [[baptized]].<ref name="Brewer1894">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=blUXAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA384|title=A Dictionary of Miracles: Imitative, Realistic, and Dogmatic|last=Brewer|first=Ebenezer Cobham|publisher=[[J. B. Lippincott & Co.]]|year=1894|page=384|language=en|quote=St. Valentine, laying his hand upon her eyes, said in prayer, "O Thou who art the true Light, give light to this Thy servant." Instantly sight was restored to the blind child. Asterius and his wife, falling at the feet of Valentine, prayed that they might be admitted into the Christian fellowship; whereupon St. Valentine commanded them to break their idols, to fast for three days, to forgive their enemies, and to be baptized. Asterius and his wife did all the saint told them to do, and Valentine baptized them and all their household, to the number of forty-six in all. —''Les Petits Bollandistes'', vol. ii. pp. 510, 511.}}</ref><ref name="oruch"/>

A later ''Passio'' repeated the legend, adding that [[Pope Julius I]] built a church over his sepulchre (it is a confusion with a 4th-century tribune called Valentino, who donated land to build a church at a time when Julius was a Pope).<ref name="ansgar49"/> The legend was picked up as fact by later martyrologies, starting with [[Bede]]'s martyrology in the 8th century.<ref name="ansgar49"/> It was repeated in the 13th century, in ''[[Golden Legend|The Golden Legend]]''.<ref>[http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/golden169.htm ''Legenda Aurea'', "Saint Valentine"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904010018/http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/golden169.htm |date=September 4, 2013 }}, catholic-forum.com.</ref>

There is an additional embellishment to ''The Golden Legend'', which according to Henry Ansgar Kelly, was added in the 18th century and widely repeated.<ref name="your valentine">Ansgar, 1986, p. 59. It originated in the 1797 edition of ''Kemmish's Annual'', according to Frank Staff, ''The Valentine and Its Origins'' (London, 1969), p. 122. Ansgar was unable to corroborate this.</ref> On the evening before Valentine was to be [[executed]], he is supposed to have written the first "valentine" card himself, addressed to the daughter of his jailer Asterius, who was no longer blind, signing as "Your Valentine."<ref name="your valentine"/> The expression "From your Valentine" was later adopted by modern Valentine letters.<ref name="Ruth Lee 1952">Ruth Webb Lee, ''A History of Valentines'', 1952, Studio Publications in association with Crowell.</ref> This legend has been published by both [[American Greetings]] and [[The History Channel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/st-valentine-beheaded|title=St. Valentine beheaded – Feb 14, 278|date=February 14, 2012|publisher=[[History (U.S. TV channel)|History]]|access-date=April 9, 2015|quote=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. Legend also has it that while in jail, St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine."|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316200003/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/st-valentine-beheaded|archive-date=March 16, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Valentineanddisciples.jpg|thumb|[[Saint Valentine|Saint Valentine of Terni]] and his disciples]]
[[John Foxe]], a 16th-century English historian, and the [[Order of Carmelites]] state that Saint Valentine was buried in the [[Santa Prassede|Church of Saint Praxedes]] in Rome, located near the cemetery of [[Saint Hippolytus]]. This order says that according to legend, "Julia herself planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship."<ref>John Foxe. Voices of the Martyrs. Bridge Logos Foundation. pg. 62.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carmelites.ie/ireland/whitefriar%20st/valentine.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126100202/http://www.carmelites.ie/ireland/whitefriar%20st/valentine.htm|url-status=dead|title=Shrine of St Valentine, Whitefriar Street Church|archivedate=January 26, 2013}}</ref>

Another embellishment suggests that Saint Valentine performed clandestine [[Christian views on marriage|Christian weddings]] for soldiers who were forbidden to marry.<ref name="David Harkness 1961">David James Harkness, Legends and Lore: Southerns Indians Flowers Holidays, vol. XL, No. 2, April 1961, University of Tennessee Newsletter (bimonthly), p. 15.</ref> The Roman Emperor Claudius II supposedly forbade this in order to grow his army, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers.<ref name="David Harkness 1961"/><ref name="Max Christensen 1997">Max L. Christensen, ''Heroes and Saints: More Stories of People Who Made a Difference'', 1997, Westminster John Knox Press. Chapter "The First Valentine", p. 25 {{ISBN|066425702X}}</ref> However, George Monger writes that this marriage ban was never issued and that Claudius II told his soldiers to take two or three women for themselves after his victory over the [[Goths]].<ref name="Monger2013">{{cite book|author=George Monger|title=Marriage Customs of the World: An Encyclopedia of Dating Customs and Wedding Traditions, Expanded Second Edition &#91;2 Volumes&#93;|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=avDXAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA665|date=April 9, 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-664-5|pages=665–671|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914170136/https://books.google.com/books?id=avDXAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA665|archive-date=September 14, 2015}}</ref>

According to legend, in order "to remind these men of their vows and God's love, Saint Valentine is said to have cut hearts from parchment", giving them to these soldiers and [[Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire|persecuted Christians]], a possible origin of the widespread use of hearts on Saint Valentine's Day.<ref name="Frank Staff 1969">Frank Staff, ''The Valentine & Its Origins'', 1969, Frederick A. Praeger.</ref>

Saint Valentine supposedly wore a purple [[amethyst]] ring, customarily worn on the hands of Christian [[bishop]]s with an image of [[Cupid]] engraved in it, a recognizable symbol associated with love that was legal under the Roman Empire;<ref name="Max Christensen 1997"/><ref name="AMNH 1958">''The Illustrated Library of the Natural Sciences'', Volume 1, 1958, Simon and Schuster. p. 85 "The amethyst is the birthstone for February, and Saint Valentine is supposed to have worn an amethyst engraved with a figure of Cupid"</ref> Roman soldiers would recognize the ring and ask him to perform marriage for them.<ref name="Max Christensen 1997"/> Probably due to the association with Saint Valentine, amethyst has become the [[birthstone]] of February, which is thought to attract love.<ref name="Hesse2007">{{cite book|author=Rayner W. Hesse|title=Jewelrymaking Through History: An Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DIWEi5Hg93gC&pg=PA21|date=January 1, 2007|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-33507-5|pages=21|quote=It appears as the birthstone from February probably due to its association with Saint Valentine; therefore, amethyst has often been worn to attract love.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915012025/https://books.google.com/books?id=DIWEi5Hg93gC&pg=PA21|archive-date=September 15, 2015}}</ref>