Who was St Valentine? No one is absolutely sure. But it is almost certain that he was a priest in Rome during the reign of Emperor Cladius II. A tomb in the catacombs was found with St Valentine's name and a little information about him.
The text tells that he was a priest who was caught marrying young Christian couples and helping Christians that were being persecuted. He caught the emperor's eye and was imprisoned. The Emperor seemed to like St Valentine. But St Valentine made a mistake and tried to convert Claudius. Claudius at once had him killed. He died on 14th of February.
St Valentine is known as the patron saint of engaged couples, bee-keepers, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, and young couples.
Today we are putting up a new Annie Belle in honour of St Valentine's Day. Click on these links to download her or go to the paper dolls page:
Annie Belle's St Valentine's Day
Annie Belle's St Valentine's Day Colouring in
Have a happy St Valentine's Day!
It seems that holidays get further and further from what they origniated. I wonder how many people actually stop to ask who St. Valentine? Or will they just start calling it V-day and forget intirely what it is about.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know much about him myself until I decided to research him. I had a vague memory that he married young couples and that was about it. I rather liked the list of things he's the patron saint of. I mean, the patron saint of epilepsy? I bet not many of the people who celebrate St Valetine's Day know that fact.
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