On February 14, the whole world celebrated Valentine's Day, better known as Valentine's Day. The holiday is exclusively secular in nature and is widely celebrated throughout the world, but is condemned by the Catholic Church, although it has church roots.
A bit of history
This story began 18 centuries ago, in 269 AD. At that time, the Roman Empire was ruled by Emperor Claudius II. There was another military campaign, and the Roman army experienced an acute shortage of recruits. The emperor was convinced that the main enemy of the army was marriage, because a married legionnaire thinks much less about military glory, and puts love for his wife higher than love for the Motherland.
Without thinking twice, the emperor issued a decree prohibiting marriages for the soldiers of the Roman Empire. Claudius II naively believed that the ban would raise the morale of the army and mobilize soldiers for feats of arms, but that was not the case.
A priest from the Roman city of Terni, named Valentine, intervened in the matter. According to a legend that exists among lovers, a priest married lovers under cover of night, contrary to imperial prohibitions. And during the day he reconciled those who quarreled, helped write poems and odes for lovers, and also delivered bouquets to the girls.
Soon, the "tricks" of the priest Valentine reached Claudius II, and he gave the order to imprison him. In prison, Valentine met the warden's daughter, Julia. On the eve of her execution, the priest wrote her a love letter and signed it "Your Valentine". And on February 14, 269 AD, Valentine was executed.
Information about Valentine's life is contradictory and unreliable. There is an opinion that the priest Valentine never married anyone, there was no secret lover in his life, but was an ordinary ordinary priest who kept a celibate dinner. But in 496, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day, and Valentine himself was canonized by the Catholic Church, declared a Christian martyr who suffered for his faith.
"Basurman holiday"
Since 1969, Saint Valentine has been removed from the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church as a result of the worship reform. Since then, in Catholic churches, primarily in Russia, on February 14, instead of "Valentine's Day", the day of memory of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the Enlighteners of the Slavs, is celebrated. The Orthodox Church honors the memory of Valentine on July 19. But in Orthodoxy there are patrons of well-being in marital relations - Peter and Fevronia of Murom. Since 2008, on July 8, in their honor, Russia has celebrated the “Day conjugal love and family happiness.
In addition, there are ardent ideological opponents of Valentine's Day among young Russians. The Orthodox Youth Association “Georgievtsy!” held an online protest against the celebration of St. Valentine's Day, urging bloggers on February 14 to place a crossed out heart on their userpics. According to the "Georgievites", the holiday has a pagan and commercial background and is a date alien to both Orthodox and Catholics.
There are currently no bans on marriages between men and women. Therefore, sometimes priests very freely interpret the commandments of God and marry among themselves ... gays.
So September 1, 2003 in Nizhny Novgorod Priest Vladimir Enert married two men of non-traditional sexual orientation in the chapel for a bribe of 15 thousand rubles. Synod of Russian Orthodox Church a month later he deprived the priest of church dignity. The act of the priest was defined by the Synod as blasphemy against the sacrament and violation of the foundations Holy Scripture and urged Orthodox clergy to strictly observe church canons, and the flock - the holiness and indissolubility of marriage.
controversial issue
The complex relationship between gay people and priests is also characteristic of Western Christianity. In May last year, the Anglican Church married two homosexuals: the piquancy of the situation was given by the fact that both gays are priests. Peter Cowell of Westminster Abbey and Dr David Lord of New Zealand were married by Martin Dudley, Rector of a London parish, who described the union as "charitable".
But the hierarchs of the Anglican Church were far from approving this act, the press secretary of the Anglican Church, Lou Henderson, condemned the married gay priests, saying that such a ceremony violates all the guidelines of the church. The Bishop of London has warned parish priest on the inadmissibility of gay wedding ceremonies.
In the US, there is no consensus on homosexuals in cassocks. In 2003, the first openly gay man became the Bishop of New Hampshire in the United States. The General Convention of the Episcopal Church - the denomination's highest body - approved this consecration, but the ordination of Gene Robinson led to a split in the Anglican Church. The leaders of the Canadian and Nigerian communities protested against the ordination.
The opinions of US priests on the “Gene Robinson case” were divided: liberal representatives of the church called for respect for the rights and freedoms of homosexuals, both priests and parishioners. In their arguments, the hierarchs appealed to the biblical teaching about the equality and justice of all before God. The conservative part of the Anglican Church in the United States considered the presence of a gay bishop as a contradiction common sense and biblical teachings. Robinson himself reacted to the attacks: " I am not an abomination in the face of the Lord".
Piquant Crisis in the Anglican Church
In the UK itself, the crisis in the Anglican Church over homosexual priests is even more profound because of the country's civil partnerships law. It allows the British to officially register same-sex unions.
The first legally married homosexual couple in the UK was a female priest and her partner. Her Reverend Debbie Gaston and her partner Elaine Cook were married in the UK's gay capital city of Brighton on December 21, 2005. By that time, they had been together for 16 years and raised 2 children. " As a priest, I believe with all my heart in the sanctity of marriage, I myself have married more than 30 couples. I didn't feel fully satisfied until I got married before the Lord", - said Debbie Gaston after the wedding.
The conclusion of civil partnerships is authorized by the Archbishop of Canterbury Roan Williams. The head of the Church of England announced that by law gay priests have the right to enter into civil partnerships, and partners of gay priests will be endowed with the same rights in the field of social security as the spouses of heterosexual clerics. But these alliances should only be of a platonic nature, because before marriage, gay priests must provide their bishop with a written promise that there will be no sexual relations between them.
The response of homosexual priests was not long in coming. A petition has appeared on the Internet, signed by 20 clergy of England, in which it is proposed to bless couples who have entered into civil partnerships. In the petition the priests say that " Jesus nowhere teaches that people who have same-sex relationships lose God. Denying recognition and blessing to same-sex unions is un-Christian, illegal and dishonest. We will bless those who turn to us".
"Unloved and unwanted children" of the Vatican
Not all is calm in the Vatican either. In the Roman Catholic Church, preparations are underway to ban homosexuals from being ordained to the priesthood, even if they have become celibate.
The official authorities of the Vatican intend to harshly suppress the wave of sympathy for the homosexual subculture among Catholic priests. The leadership of the Vatican reported: from now on, an applicant for the post of priest of the Catholic Church will have to undergo a psychiatric test before accepting the dignity, which will confirm that he does not have homosexual inclinations, but if the person is " publicly express one's homosexuality" or " demonstrate sympathy for gay culture at least on an intellectual level”, he will not receive permission for dignity. In another part of the document it is said that those who had " fluent experience of homosexuality", can become priests, but homosexual inclinations must be overcome three years before ordination.
In response to instructions issued by the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, a group of unnamed Italian gay priests released a collective statement deploring the Holy See's policies for making them "unloved and unwanted children" of the church.
The measures taken by the Vatican are connected with the scandal in the Boston diocese, which became known in January 2002. In the epicenter of the Boston scandal, more than 400 lawsuits were filed against Catholic priests who were engaged in child molestation. A total of 176 American priests accused of child sexual abuse have been suspended from service in 28 US states. Of the 11,000 victims of Catholic priests, 80% are boys. In the United States, up to 25% of believers consider themselves to be Catholics.
At the same time, in the camp of Catholics there are ministers of the church who sympathize with homosexuals, both priests and parishioners. 30 Catholic priests in the American city of Rochester wrote an open letter condemning the position of the Vatican, which advocates a ban on same-sex marriages. " These people are important to our church. Every person has the virtues given by God».
In Germany, the homeland of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, they did not find support for the pope's action to prevent homosexuals from accepting the rank of the Catholic Church. This measure was rejected by 67% of German Catholics and 74% of Protestants, who saw in it a manifestation of obscurantism and infringement of human rights.
It is difficult to predict what reforms the church is ready to go to in order to keep parishioners. Perhaps, after the ordination of people of non-traditional sexual orientation and women, the celibacy dinner at the priests will be canceled. Indeed, in the Bible there is no direct indication of the need for priests to observe celibacy, this rule was later introduced by the Roman Catholic Church. In Catholicism, the Apostle Peter, who had a wife and three children, is traditionally considered the first pope. Perhaps, in order to avoid further scandals among the priests, the current ministers of Christ should take an example from him?
The history of Valentine's Day grows out of legends that have come to us through the centuries. One of the first popular symbols of Valentine's Day was Cupid, the Roman god of love, represented by a boy with a bow and arrow. But did Saint Valentine really exist?
Several theories surround the history of Valentine's Day.
For about three hundred years after the death of Jesus Christ, Roman emperors continued to insist on belief in their gods. Valentine was a Christian priest, and for his teachings he was thrown into prison. On February 14, Valentine was beheaded, not only because he was a Christian priest, but also because he performed a miracle. There is a story that he cured the jailer's daughter of blindness. On the night before his execution, he wrote her a farewell letter, signing it "From Your Valentine".
Another legend.
Valentine was an Italian bishop who lived around the same time, 200 AD. He was imprisoned for secretly marrying couples in love, contrary to the laws of the Roman emperor. According to some reports, he was burned at the stake.
It is not known exactly why February 14th is known as St. Valentine's Day, or if St. Valentine was actually related to this day.
Historians claim that the modern day celebration of Valentine's Day was a mixture of ancient Christian and Roman traditions. According to one legend, this holiday comes from the ancient Roman festival Lupercalia - Lupercalia, which was a fertility festival and was celebrated annually on February 15th. But during the rise of Christianity in Europe, many pagan holidays were renamed in honor of Christian martyrs. The Lupercalia festival is no exception. In AD 496, Popes Gelasius directed the inclusion of the Lupercalia festival as a Christian holiday and set its observance one day early, February 14th. He proclaimed February 14 as a holiday in honor of Roman Saint Valentine.
There were at least three Christian saints named Valentine in the Catholic Encyclopedia. One of them was a priest in Rome, the other was a bishop in Terni. Nothing is known about the third Saint Valentine except that he ended his life in Africa. But it is known that they were all executed on February 14th.
Most scholars believe that Saint Valentine was a priest who lived in Rome around 270 and drew the disgrace of the Roman emperor Claudius II, who was the ruler of that time. During the existence of Valentine, the golden era of the Roman Empire had almost come to an end. The lack of capable leaders has led to frequent civil wars. Taxation has risen exorbitantly. The Roman Empire faced crisis from all sides - from the Gauls, Slavs, Huns, Turks and Mongols from Northern Europe and Asia. The story of St. Valentine also has two different versions - Protestant and Catholic. But both versions agree with the story when St. Valentine, as a bishop, performed secret marriage ceremonies for the soldiers of Emperor Claudius II, who forbade marriage for young soldiers and was subsequently executed for this. Claudius II believed that married men were more emotionally attached to their families, and thus would not be good soldiers. He issued a decree banning marriage for his military personnel.
The ban on marriage was a great shock to the Romans. But they did not dare to openly express their protest against the powerful emperor. Bishop Valentine considered this decree unfair, and seeing the imprint this trauma leaves on young lovers who have lost all hope of having a family, he secretly performed marriages for young lovers. But such things cannot remain secret for a long time. When Claudius II found out about this, Valentine was arrested.
Claudius II met Valentine and he is said to have been impressed with the feeling dignity the last one. Valentine refused to agree with the emperor regarding the ban on marriage. He also refused to recognize the Roman gods and even attempted to convert the emperor himself, fully aware of the consequences.
Legend says that there was a deep friendship between Valentine and the daughter of Asterius. Just before the execution, Valentine asked for a pencil and paper from his jailer and signed a farewell for her" From your Valentine", a phrase that lives on to this day. Valentine was executed on February 14, 270 AD.
After that, February 14 became the day for all lovers and Saint Valentine became his patron.
And no matter how strange the origin story may be, Valentine's Day is the day of lovers. When a lover can send a letter and candy to his sweetheart, roses are a symbol of love. The first greeting cards "valentines" appeared in the 16th century. William Shakespeare helped romanticize Valentine's Day in his work, and the holiday gained popularity throughout the UK and beyond in the rest of Europe. Originally postcards were handmade. "Valentines" made of lace, ribbons, and with pictures of cupid with an arrow piercing the heart. After this tradition spread to the American continent. Today, Valentine's Day is one of the major holidays in the US and is a huge commercial success.
But who was Saint Valentine, and did he really exist? We only know that this day has a mixture of Christian and ancient Roman traditions. But the personal history of the patron saint of Valentine's Day is shrouded in mystery!
Happy Valentine's Day, dear readers!
All the best, happiness and love to you!
CLAVDIUS II OF GOTHAS (268 - 270)Claudius II of Gotha (Marcus Aurelius Valery Claudius) (268-270) was born around 214, probably in Dardania (Upper Moesia). AT Historia Augusta letters are cited showing that he served as a military tribune under Trajan Decius and Valerian, who appointed him commander-in-chief in Illyricum. These documents are fictitious, but perhaps the invented messages contain some truth. At the time of the assassination in 268 of Gallienus near Mediolanum, in which Claudius seems to have taken part, he held the post of deputy commander in that area. They chose a new emperor from two contenders: Claudius and another major commander, Aurelian, who was also involved in the conspiracy. It is not known why Claudius was chosen by the army, although Aurelian's reputation for strict discipline may have played a role. One way or another, the story was set in motion that the dying Gallienus had formally appointed Claudius as his successor.
However, the murder of Gallienus outraged the soldiers, and fermentation began in the troops, which was only managed to be dampened by the traditional promise to pay an additional reward of twenty gold coins per person. For their part, the senators in Rome, outraged that Gallienus had removed them from government, cheered his death. They immediately proceeded to destroy his friends and relatives, including his brother and son Marian. Claudius urged the senators to mercy, even insisting on deifying the late emperor and appeasing the army.
After the ascension of Claudius to the throne, the siege of Mediolanum with the rebellious commander Aureol, which was conducted by both Gallienus and his murderers, continued without interruption. Upon learning of the change of ruler, Aureol tried to come to an agreement, but when his close associates opposed this, he decided to surrender to Claudius, apparently on the condition that his life be spared. But he was soon killed - the soldiers were outraged that he had betrayed Gallienus. Despite the elimination of this danger, Claudius was still forced to remain in northern Italy, as a serious threat arose from the Alemanni. Either at the instigation of Aureolus, or because the garrison in Rhetia was weakened, his units were pulled to Mediolanus, but the Alemanni broke through the Brenner Pass and reached Lake Benac. Here Claudius met them and inflicted such a heavy defeat on the Alemanni that hardly half of their original number returned to the north. Claudius, however, appropriated the title "Germanic" to himself.
The breakaway Empire, founded by Postumus in the west, was going through difficult times, and Claudius, in order to further weaken it, sent a reconnaissance detachment under the command of Julius Placidian into southern Gaul. He, located at Kularon, established contact with Spain and thereby returned it to the authority of the central government. Claudius himself did not lead this campaign, since he believed that first of all it was necessary to organize resistance to the combs in the Balkans. In 268, Gallienus failed to win a final victory at Naissus, but his commander Marcianus continued to disturb the invaders, and then Claudius himself arrived to complete the rout. When the Goths, lacking food, had to descend from the camp on Mount Hessax to Macedonia in search of food, Claudius attacked them furiously, apparently not far from the city of Marcianopolis. This success was marked by the issuance of coins (VICTORIAE GOTHIC ae) and brought the title of “Gothic” to the emperor, under which he has been known since then. New detachments were ready to cross the Danube to help their fellow tribesmen, but they did not achieve much success, another part of them tried to break through to the cities of the Aegean Sea on the ships of the Heruli, but also met with rebuff and was defeated by the Roman fleet, led by Tenaginon Probus, the governor Egypt. Many Germans who were captured during various wars, were enrolled in the Roman army or settled in the north of the Balkans. The preserved milestones testify to the intensive construction of roads in this area.
Claudius was still occupied with the siege of the Goths on Mount Aemus when reports came in that the tribe of the Jutungs, which until then was content with the money paid by Rome, had crossed the Danuvium in search of new lands and threatened Rhetia, while another tribe, the Vandals, was preparing to invade Pannonia. Therefore, Claudius, having entrusted the fight against the Goths to Aurelian, hastened with the troops to Sirmium in order to inspect the new theater of operations. But his army was struck by the plague, and in January 270 Claudius himself fell victim to it.
Although he reigned for less than two years, his death was sincerely mourned by both the soldiers and the senate, and his deification followed immediately. Moreover, later the memory of him was again resurrected when Constantine the Great stated that his grandmother was Claudius's daughter or niece. This claim was fictional, but because of it Claudius's life stories turned into enthusiastic panegyrics. But nevertheless, the fact remains that he was an outstanding commander, showing a fine example of military skill and valor, to which the Empire owes its preservation. But he had neither the time nor the opportunity to deal with difficult economic problems; for example, the quality of a silver-plated bronze coin became even worse, which adversely affected the already soaring prices. His coins depict a typical representative of the Danuvian military leaders of that time: short-haired, bearded and unforgiving.
(text according to the publication: M. Grant. Roman emperors / translated from English by M. Gitt - M.; TERRA - Book Club, 1998)
Almost all over the world on February 14, people have been celebrating Valentine's Day for many years. They give hearts to their soul mates, most often they delight with various romantic surprises. However, few people know who Saint Valentine is, where all these traditions came from and why they are so ardently honored in our time. Well, let's try to understand the history of this celebration, plunging into the depths of religion and mythology, as well as focusing on the traditions of various countries and peoples.
A retrospective of the legends about the origin of this saint
There are three legends about who Saint Valentine is. More precisely, three people are known under this name. The first is Valentin Rimsky, who worked in Rome as a clergyman. He died in the third century AD as a result of the persecution that took place during the collapse of the Roman Empire. The second character is Valentine, who also worked in Italy as a church bishop. He was executed in 270 and buried in the Third - a person completely unknown to people of our time. Some, however, believe that he was a warrior and died on a campaign against Carthage. With the advent of the Middle Ages, when all kinds of romance, art and other manifestations of beauty were under the strictest ban, people painted Valentine as an associate who promoted the church (Catholic) idea all over the world.
A beautiful fairy tale that could be true
Nowadays, there is the so-called "Golden Legend", which tells about who Saint Valentine is, where he lived and why he became the patron saint of all lovers. So, once ruling in the Roman Empire, Claudius II considered that young men were reluctant to enter his army. It seemed to him that it was their wives who did not let them go to war, so the emperor signed a decree banning weddings for every unmarried member of the stronger sex. Valentine was a local doctor, a preacher of Christianity. Along with this, he secretly married lovers. Once a man, whose daughter Julia was blind, approached him, and he prescribed an ointment for her. Later rumors of secret weddings reached Claudius, and Valentine was locked up in a dungeon. Knowing that he would be executed, he sent an envelope to Yulia, where, along with healing saffron, he left a message with the text “Your Valentine”. The former doctor was executed on February 14, and the girl, having opened the envelope, gained her sight. Officially, this holiday was included in the church canons in 496.
Inconsistencies in the most beautiful legend
The story of the celebration of Valentine's Day, which was outlined in the previous paragraph, cannot be true for several reasons. Firstly, the holy martyr himself lived in Rome in the third century AD, when wedding rites as such did not yet exist. This is primarily due to the fact that at the moment Christianity has not yet taken over in the Roman Empire, and all citizens, including the ruler, remained pagans. The spouses could do this both secretly and publicly, so such rumors could hardly reach the emperor. Although it is not worth stating with accuracy that every word in this legend is a fiction, since a saint with a similar name is fully recognized by the Catholic Church, and most often he is identified with a doctor who prayed for every sick person in the world and helped every person who asked him about healing.
The origin of Valentine's Day according to pagan theory
Some historians believe that this celebration was invented, like St. Valentine himself, in order to displace a very cruel pagan holiday from Roman traditions. According to a long tradition, the city of Rome was founded by the brothers - Romulus and Remus, who were fed with their milk by a she-wolf. That is why every year the inhabitants of the empire sacrificed one sheep (the food of wolves), as well as a dog (an animal that wolves hate). The skin of dead animals was divided into narrow thin belts, after which completely naked young guys whipped everyone who got in their way with them. It is noteworthy that young girls tried to fall under these blows, since it was believed that scars made it possible to successfully marry, bear and give birth to a child. In turn, the history of the appearance of Valentine's Day here is connected with the fact that these belts were called "februa", and the ritual itself was carried out in the middle of this February, which in the Romano-Germanic languages sounds like "februarium" and its other derivatives.
Love rituals associated with this celebration
In the form familiar to us, the holiday of all lovers began to be celebrated only in the 19th century in Great Britain. Of course, no one knew who Saint Valentine was, as well as the history of the origin of this entire ritual. For people, this has already become a simple entertainment, which appeared either at the behest or by some decree of the local government. However, every year on February 14, the young men pulled out notes from the drum, which indicated the names of the girls they knew. This is how the “couples” were formed, which during the year had to accept each other’s courtship, after which they could disperse or get married. Later, this tradition migrated to the United States, where it gained great popularity and new rules, many of which are well known to us today.
History of Valentine's Day in the 20th century
At the dawn of the new century, newly-minted merchants took up such entertainment. Thanks to them, heart-shaped postcards, specialized gift bouquets, sweets and other trifles appeared on sale. Also, the owners of restaurants and cafes began to organize certain programs, which could only be attended by couples in love. Gradually, this celebration has become a great opportunity to earn money by selling postcards, "valentines", flowers, good wine and other gifts that today, as a rule, men give to their beloved ladies. In the 21st century, in honor of such a holiday, they just do not suit. And DJ specialized sets, and films, and concerts, and many other events.
Traditions that depend on the culture of a particular country
Despite the fact that we now know who Saint Valentine is and that his homeland is Italy, the celebration held in his honor covers the whole world. In England, where the holiday was celebrated for the first time, today most of all they guess ... on birds. If on February 14 the first thing you see is a robin, then you will live happily ever after with a sailor. A sparrow is most often found in a poor groom, but a goldfinch is a clear messenger of a rich prince. When this holiday became the property of the Americans, their men took up the tradition of giving marzipan to their other halves. Today they are easily replaced with chocolate and other confectionery, but at the same time their color should remain red or white. the French do for their women - they present jewels and jewelry to those they love. But in Japan, citizens are limited only to chocolate. At the same time, this product is a manifestation of the purest love, and both a man and a woman can confess their feelings.
Brief conclusion
Such a mysterious and diverse origin of the holiday "Valentine's Day" has made it a worldwide celebration. In our country, he also gained popularity, but only with the beginning of the 1990s. Also, all over the world it is customary to believe that marriages concluded on February 14 will not only be happy, but also eternal.
Valentine's Day is a common holiday around the world, and it is celebrated on February 14th. They also call it Valentine's Day, but not many people know who the celebration was named after and what its history is. In fact, there are several versions that provide explanations for these questions.
Who is Saint Valentine?
The Roman saint of the third century, who is considered the patron saint of all lovers, is called Saint Valentine. There is practically no information about this person in the history, which caused the appearance of various rumors regarding this person. There are historians who believe that Saint Valentine is two people at once. The Pope included his name in the list of respected people, whose deeds are known only to the Lord.
Understanding who Saint Valentine is, it is worth noting that in some sources one can find a description of the rhinestone of three saints: one was a priest, the second was a bishop, and very little is known about the third and, judging by indirect data, he died in torment in the African province of Rome . A certain similarity in the legends concerning the first two Valentines leads many people to believe that they were representations of the same person.
Saint Valentine - the story of life
In the Catholic Church, Valentine is not on the list of saints who must be remembered at the liturgies, so his memory is honored only at the local level in a number of dioceses. In the Orthodox Church, St. Valentine of Interamna is remembered on August 12, and Roman on July 19.
- Valentin Interamnsky was born in 176 in a patrician family. Even in his youth, he converted to Christianity, and in 197 he was appointed bishop. In 270, at the invitation of the philosopher Kraton, the saint arrived in Rome and healed a boy who had a severely twisted spine. This made other people believe in God and accept Christianity. The mayor forced Valentine to renounce his faith, but he refused and accepted a painful death on February 14, 273.
- Who is Saint Valentine of Rome is not known much. He accepted death because of his healing abilities.
Why is Saint Valentine famous?
More often, thinking about the patron saint of all lovers, people point to Bishop Valentine, who was born in the city of Ternii. There are many conflicting legends about this person.
- There is evidence that St. Valentine, the patron saint of lovers, when he was still a young man, supported people, for example, taught them to show their feelings and become happy. He helped write letters of confession, reconciled people and gave spouses flowers and gifts.
- Saint Valentine married men and women, but, according to legend, Emperor Julius Claudius II did not allow soldiers to fall in love and marry, but the bishop violated his ban.
- The saint was sent to prison and there he fell in love with the blind daughter of his own executioner and helped her heal. There is evidence that the executioner himself asked the bishop to save his daughter from illness, and she then fell in love with her savior. Continuing to learn the story - who is Saint Valentine, it is worth mentioning this interesting fact that before the execution, he gave his beloved a note signed "Your Valentine". It is believed that “valentines” came from here.
- The day of the execution coincided with a Roman holiday in honor of the goddess of love, Juno. In Rome, this day was considered the beginning of spring.
Was Saint Valentine gay?
As already mentioned, due to the lack of information, various rumors arose. These include the fact that Saint Valentine is gay. Such a rumor appeared due to the fact that the emperor Claudius II allegedly issued an order that men fit for military service could not marry among themselves, as this would negatively affect the morale of the army. The bishop, who himself was a homosexual, violated the order and married the guys to each other, for which he was executed.
The truth about Saint Valentine indicates that he was, and an interpretation of the emperor's law, mere fantasy. In fact, Claudius was a reformer who made the Roman army strong and regular. He said that warriors should not be married, as they would be afraid to go into battle so that the family would not lose their breadwinner. Since the saint blessed Christian values, marriage was sacred to him, and he held services for marriage, so the question regarding whom St. Valentine married does not apply to homosexual couples.
How did Saint Valentine die?
There are two versions regarding the death of the patron saint of all lovers:
- According to the very first and well-known version, the priest ended up in prison because he helped Christians and held the wedding of young Christian couples. When Valentine wanted to turn Claudius into true faith, he sentenced him to death. The saint was stoned, but they did not injure him in any way, so it was decided to behead him. There is no exact date of execution, but there are three options: 269, 270 and 273.
- There is another version regarding who executed St. Valentine. So, he was sentenced to house arrest, and the warden was the judge, who began to talk with the priest on a religious topic. To resolve the dispute, the judge brought the blind daughter and said that he would fulfill any wish of Valentine if he returned the girl's sight. As a result, the Saint fulfilled his obligations and demanded that the judge renounce paganism and accept Christianity. After that, Valentine was released, but there was a second arrest, and then he was sent to the emperor, who ordered his execution, according to the scenario described in the first version. In this version, there is an exact date of death - February 14, 269.
Saint Valentine in Christianity
If we consider the versions of the origin of the custom to celebrate Valentine's Day, then they have pagan roots, so the church considers this holiday superfluous. In addition, it is important to note that Saint Valentine is not mentioned in the Bible and other sacred books for Christians. The clergy assure that sincere love for the Lord will help a person say goodbye to all the customs associated with the glorification of false gods. Many religious scholars also believe that Valentine's Day is a commercial ploy.
Saint Valentine in Orthodoxy
In the Orthodox Church there are testimonies of three Saint Valentines: Interamna, Roman and Dorostol. It is believed that the Orthodox Saint Valentine is Interamne, but if you look, all the legends known about this person are taken from all three biographies of saints with the same names. Religious scholars assure that this is just a legend and fiction that the priest, allegedly violating the ban, helped couples get married. In the church calendar on February 14 there is no mark on the need to glorify St. Valentine.
Saint Valentine for Catholics
It has already been mentioned that the Roman Catholic Church speaks of three Valentines, and two of them are probably the same person. It is worth noting that the liturgical commemoration of the saint was replaced by the commemoration of saints. This is due to the fact that during the reform church calendar many considerations were taken into account, for example, it was decided to indicate in the calendar the saints who have a genuine church-wide significance, while the Catholic St. Valentine does not have this. Summing up, we can say that Catholics do not have such a holiday as Valentine's Day.
Saint Valentine in Islam
It is clear that there is no such patron of lovers in Islam, but this is a religion of true love and cooperation in good intentions, therefore Muslims recognize holidays that bring people who sincerely love Allah and each other closer together. It should be noted that the priest himself St. Valentine and the holiday in Islam is not welcome. Religion says that people should express their feelings to each other every day, and not just once a year.
Legend of Saint Valentine
Over the years, many legends have arisen associated with the patron saint of lovers. The story of the execution, in which Emperor Claudius II and Saint Valentine took part, was told above, but there are other legends:
- One of the legends tells how Valentine married a Christian woman and a Roman centurion, who were mortally ill. By doing this, he violated the decree of the emperor. It is believed that after this the saint was called the patron saint of lovers.
- There is an interesting legend that describes the meeting of Valentine and a couple of lovers who had a big fight. At the will of the priest, a pair of doves began to circle around them, which amused and helped to forget about the quarrel.
- Another story tells that Valentine had a large garden where he grew roses himself. He allowed children to frolic on his territory and when they went home, they received a flower from the priest as a gift. When he was arrested, he was very worried that the children would have nowhere to walk, but two pigeons flew to him in prison, through which he handed over the key to the garden and a note.
Saint Valentine - interesting facts
There is information about this person noted in the religion, which for many people is unknown.
- The saint is considered the patron saint of beekeeping and epileptics.
- The skull of the patron saint of all lovers can be found in Rome in the Church of the Virgin Mary. After the life of St. Valentine ended, in the early 1800s, various relics and remains were found during excavations, which spread around the world.
- It is believed that the holiday of lovers was invented by the English poet Chaucer, who described it in the poem "Bird Parliament".