Valentine’s Day was first established in 496 AD by Pope Gelasius to honor Saint Valentine.
It is not clear, however, whether the celebration was intended to honor one or more saints named Valentine.
One Saint Valentine was believed to be a Roman Priest martyred during the reign of Emperor Claudius II (268 – 270 A.D.) for aiding persecuted Christians (a crime at the time).
Claudius originally had Valentine imprisoned, but when Valentine preached the Gospel to Claudius, Claudius had him beheaded. Valentine was believed to be buried along the Via Flaminia, a road to Rome. Continue reading “Regarding Valentine’s Day”