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Saint Valentine – facial reconstruction. Reconstru莽茫o facial forense de S茫o Valentim. C铆cero Moraes, Jos茅 Lu铆s Lira, ABRHAGI, Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Marcos Paulo Salles Machado. Photo by Cicero Moraes –

Top 10 Fun facts about Saint Valentine

On 14 February, around the year 270, a Roman priest called Valentine was stoned and beheaded. In 496, Pope Gelasius marked 14 February as St. Valentine鈥檚 Day in dedication to his martyrdom.

For centuries, St. Valentine has been associated with romance, love and devotion. Yet little is known about his life 鈥� it is not even clear whether he was one person, or two.

Here are 10 facts about the man behind Valentine鈥檚 Day.

1. He was a 3rd-century Roman clergyman

Saint Valentine baptizing St. Lucilla Photo by Jacopo Bassano (Jacopo da Ponte) –

By most accounts, St. Valentine was a clergyman 鈥� either a priest or bishop 鈥� in the 3rd century Roman Empire.

Around 270, he was martyred during general persecution of Christians. According to the 鈥楴uremberg Chronicle of 1493, he was beaten with clubs and finally beheaded for aiding Christians in Rome.

鈥楾he Golden Legend鈥� of 1260 claimed St. Valentine refused to deny Christ before the emperor Claudius II Gothicus (214-270) and was executed outside the Flaminian Gate as a result.

His martyrdom on 14 February became his Saints鈥� Day, which has been observed as the Feast of Saint Valentine (Saint Valentine鈥檚 Day).

2. He had the power of healing

Saint valentine holding a piece of paper. Photo unattributed –

One popular legend describes St. Valentine as a former bishop of Terni, in central Italy. While under house arrest by judge Asterius, the two men discussed their respective faiths.

Asterius brought his adopted blind daughter to St. Valentine and asked him to help her see again. Valentine, praying to God, laid his hands on her eyes and the child regained her sight.

Immediately humbled, the judge converted to Christianity, became baptized, and released all his Christian prisoners 鈥� including Valentine.

As a result, Valentine became the patron saint of 鈥� among other things 鈥� healing.

3. 鈥淔rom Your Valentine鈥� originates from a letter from Saint Valentine 

Skull of Saint Valentine – Flickr – seriykotik1970. Photo by seriykotik1970 from Moscow Russia –

Years after his release, Valentine was arrested once again for evangelizing and sent to Claudius II. The emperor was said to have taken a liking to him until Valentine tried to persuade him to embrace Christianity.

Claudius refused and condemned the clergyman to death, commanding that Valentine either renounce his faith or face death.

On the day of his execution, he wrote a note to Asterius鈥� daughter 鈥� the child he had healed from blindness and befriended.

According to legend, he signed the letter 鈥渇rom your Valentine鈥�.

4. His skull is on display in Rome

Saint Valentine is healing epilepsy. Photo unattributed –

According to the official biography of the Diocese of Terni, Valentine鈥檚 body was hastily buried at a  cemetery near where he was killed before his disciples retrieved his body and returned him home.

In the early 19th century, the excavation of a catacomb near Rome produced the skeletal remains and other relics now associated with St. Valentine.

As per tradition, these remains were distributed to reliquaries around the world.

His skull, adorned with flowers, is on display in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosemedin, Rome, and other parts of his skeleton can be viewed in England, Scotland, France, Ireland, and the Czech Republic.

5. His blood was gifted by Pope Gregory XVI

Saint Valentine church in Villanders in South Tyrol. Photo unattributed –

In 1836, the Carmelite priest John Spratt received a gift from Pope Gregory XVI (1765-1846) containing a 鈥渟mall vessel tinged鈥� with St. Valentine鈥檚 blood.

The gift was taken to Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland, where it remains. The church continues to be a popular place of pilgrimage, especially for those seeking love on St. Valentine鈥檚 Day.

6. He is the patron saint of epilepsy

Saint Valentine church in Villanders in South Tyrol. Photo unattributed –

St. Valentine鈥檚 holy duties are not limited to interceding in loving couples and marriages. He is also the patron saint of beekeepers, epilepsy, plague, fainting, and traveling.

7. He may have been two different people

Valentine de Saint-Point, photographed by Alphonse Mucha in his 麻豆APP studio (early 1900s). Photo by Alphonse Mucha –

St. Valentine鈥檚 identity was questioned as early as 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who referred to him and his acts as 鈥渂eing known only to God.鈥�

The 鈥楥atholic Encyclopaedia鈥� and other hagiographical sources describe three separate St. Valentines that appear in connection with 14 February.

One 15th-century account describes Valentine as a temple priest who was beheaded near Rome for helping Christian couples marry. Another account says he was the Bishop of Terni, also martyred by Claudius II.

Despite the similarities of these two stories, enough confusion surrounded his identity that the Catholic Church discontinued liturgical veneration of him in 1969.

His name, however, remains on its list of officially recognized saints.

8. There are actually many St. Valentine

Saint valentine – tyrolean. Photo by Tyrolean 16th Century –

The name 鈥淰alentinus鈥� 鈥� from the Latin word Valens, meaning strong, worthy and powerful 鈥� was popular in Late Antiquity.

Around 11 other saints of the name Valentine, or a variation thereof, are commemorated in the Roman Catholic Church.

The most recently beautified Valentine was St. Valentine Berrio-Ochoa from Ellorio, Spain, who served as bishop in Vietnam until he was beheaded in 1861.

There was even a Pope Valentine, who ruled for two months in 827. The saint we celebrate on Valentine鈥檚 Day is officially known as St. Valentine of Rome, to differentiate him from the other St. Valentines.

9. His association with love began in the Middle Ages

Attributed to Wolf Traut, Saints Maximilian, Stephen, and Valentine, NGA. Photo by Wolf Traut –

St. Valentine鈥檚 Saint Day has been associated with the tradition of courtly love since the Middle Ages.

At the time, it was believed that birds paired in mid-February. Throughout the period, 14 February is mentioned as a day that brought lovers together, most poetically as 鈥渢he birds and the bees鈥�.

According to 18th-century historians Alban Butler and Francis Douce, Valentine鈥檚 Day was most likely created to overpower the pagan holiday, Lupercalia.

10. Valentine鈥檚 Day may have been an invention by Chaucer

Saint Valentine statue, devotional medal, and holy cards. The image is of a Saint Valentine statue, devotional medal, and two holy cards (shown with altar candles, as well as an Anglican Rosary, a Dominican Rosary, a Sacred Heart badge, and a bottle of Holy Water). I clicked this picture on November 28, 2015. Photo by Anupam –

No solid evidence exists of the romantic celebrations on 14 February prior to Chaucer鈥檚 鈥楶arlement of Foules, written in 1375.