Valentine’s Day is known to many as a day all about love. Some students here at King’s were asked what first came to their mind when they thought of Valentines Day.
Kylie Cordova ‘26 says, “The first word I think of is love and a day where usually couples give each other gifts.”
Another student stated, “It’s a day where people pass out Valentine’s and chocolate.”
Many think it’s a day where people receive chocolates and flowers from loved ones in their life, but what truly is the origin story behind Valentines Day? Where did the name “Valentine” even come from?
It all started with a man named Valentinus who lived under the rule of Claudius “The Cruel” in the Roman Empire during the third century. Claudius had banned marriage because he believed that it caused young men to not join the war effort due to their spouse and children at home.
Valentinus, a priest, believed in the power of marriage because of its biblical roots, and began marrying people in secret.
Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
Valentinus was discovered and put into jail. In jail he had the opportunity to share the gospel with his jailer and his jailer wanted evidence of his faith. The jailer had a daughter, Julia, who was blind, and Valentine prayed for healing, and she was healed immediately.
Valentinus, however, was sentenced to execution and was beheaded on February 14, 296 AD. Before he was beheaded, he wrote a letter to Julia and signed it “your Valentine” which is how we sign our Valentine’s Day cards today.
Valentine’s Day has its roots in love, but most importantly, unconditional love. Saint Valentine died for love and its biblical roots.
1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.”
He died a martyr for his convictions and for the love that reciprocated Christ’s love. Even though he was in prison, he shared the gospel, and he was willing to die for it and that’s what started Valentine’s Day.