Valentine's
Day began as a
liturgical celebration
one or more early
Christian saints named
Valentinus. Several
martyrdom stories were
invented for the various
Valentines that belonged
to February 14, and
added to later
martyrologies.
A
popular hagiographical
account of Saint
Valentine of Rome states
that he was imprisoned
for performing weddings
for soldiers who were
forbidden to marry and
for ministering to
Christians, who were
persecuted under the
Roman Empire.
According
to legend, during his
imprisonment, he healed
the daughter of his
jailer, Asterius. An
embellishment to this
story states that before
his execution he wrote
her a letter signed
"Your Valentine" as a
farewell. Today,
Saint Valentine's Day is
an official feast day in
the Anglican Communion,
as well as in the
Lutheran Church.
The
Eastern Orthodox Church
also celebrates Saint
Valentine's Day, albeit
on July 6 and July 30,
the former date in honor
of the Roman presbyter
Saint Valentine, and the
latter date in honor of
Hieromartyr Valentine,
the Bishop of Interamna
(modern Terni). In
Brazil, the Dia de São
Valentim is recognized
on June 12..
