Why is Valentino’s bishop and martyr the saint of lovers? The legend has it that his party, in mid -February, would take place again at the ancient celebrations of Greeks, Italic and Romans who were held on February 15 in honor of the god Pane, Fauno and Lupetco. These celebrations were linked to the purification of fields and fertility rites. Which have become too horrid and licentious, they were prohibited by August and then suppressed by Frozen in 494.
The Church Christianized that pagan rite of fertility by anticipating it on February 14, attributing to the martyr of Terni The ability to protect boyfriends and lovers addressed to marriage and a union cheered by their children.
Some legends arose from this affair. The most interesting are those who say the holy martyr lover of roses, fragrant flowers that gave couples of boyfriends to wish them a happy union. Today all over the world the Valentine’s Day is celebrated everywhere like “Saint of love”.
The biography: a life of charity that cost him martyrdom
The historical news about him begin in VIII century When a document tells us some details of the martyrdom: torture, the nocturnal beheading, the burial by the disciples of Proculo, Epebo and Apollonio, subsequent martyrdom of these and their burial. Other texts of the VI century say that Valentine’s Day, citizen and bishop of Terni since 197who became famous for the holiness of his life, for charity and humility, was invited to Rome by a certain Crab, Greek and Latin speaker, because he had healed his infirm son for some years. Heal the young man, converted him to Christianity together with the family and the Greek scholars of Latin letters Proculo, Efebo and Apollonio, together with the son of the prefect of the city.
Imprisoned under the emperor Aureliano was taken off in Rome. It was February 14, 273 He was among the first bishops of Terni, consecrated by San Feliciano Bishop of Foligno in 197. Today in Terni the “Valentine’s Day” Foundation was born, which takes care of the cult of the saint during the entire month of February through various initiatives of faith and culture, art and science, entertainment and fun.
Traditions
In the Central Europe (in particular France, Belgium, Germany and Austria) The Valentine’s Day is very widespread since the Middle Ages like Saints such as Nicola and Martino. According to Fair Trade Austria, for example, the turnover of the sale of flowers in Austria in conjunction with February 14, Mother’s Day and Christmas day is equal to a quarter of the total of an entire year. Only of roses, in the country of the Alpine stars, more than 110 million are sold.
Even various Austrian dioceses, such as those of Eisenstadt and Linz, Salzburg with Graz-Seckau and Innsbruck, have equipped themselves for moments of celebration and reflection with the pairs of lovers. Among the initiatives, The “Love letters by God”distributed not only in parishes, but above all outside, around the city by the volunteers with a biblical phrase on the love of couple, wanted and blessed by God. In the cathedral of Santo Stefano a Vienna Even a solemn blessing of lovers with the imposition of the hands and at the end a romantic concert.
