St Valentine's day

St Valentine, whose feast is being celebrated today, was a priest who was jailed for his defiance during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius II.

His remains were found in a catacomb in Rome and a church in his honour was built nearby. In 496, Pope Gelasius I designated February 14 as St Valentine's feast day.

When his remains were unearthed, a woodcut portrait was found with the following text: "Valentine was a priest during Claudius the Goth's reign.

He was caught accepting the marriage of Christian couples and helping Christians in Rome.

He was beaten with clubs outside the Flaminian Gate (now Porta del Popolo)."

St Valentine is the patron saint of lovers and engaged couples, bee-keepers, epilepsy sufferers, travellers and young people.

He is usually depicted surrounded by roses and birds, since birds are known to start pairing around February 14. A poem by Chaucer reads:

For this was sent on Seynt Valentine's Day,
Whan every soul cometh to choose his mate.