View Who Was Saint Valentine Background. As far as valentine's day goes, the question of who was the actual saint valentine for which the holiday is named is a tough one to answer because there were several saint valentines. Celebrated on february 14, valentine is venerated as the patron saint of lovers, epileptics, and beekeepers.
There are a number of contenders for the title of saint valentine, along with a broad assortment of myths and legends which make it even more difficult to determine who st. The day arose from the legend of saint valentine, but who was he and why do we celebrate valentine's day? First of all, there was more than one saint valentine.
Valentine's day the day is named after bishop valentine, who was alive in ancient rome.
Surely st valentine would turn in his grave at the crass commercialisation of his feast day, of which the m&s love sausage is only the latest act of war on good taste. Saint valentine lived in rome in the third century and was a priest who helped the martyrs during the persecution of emperor claudius ii the goth. When brought before the emperor, valentine refused to renounce his faith and as punishment was placed under house arrest. Valentine because it was more pleasing to say that than some of the other saints names that were well celebrated there are many theories as to who saint valentine was and why we have a day celebrating him that deals more with love and romance than saintly behavior.