But if you didn't
know, the person behind all the mushy cards, chocolate's, and teddy
bears was some godly men who served Christ in early Church history.
Here are two different stories of how it could've been started:
**At least two Valentines were martyred under Roman Emperor Claudius
II (AD 268 - 270), who is known for his sound beating of the Goths.
The majority of his reign was spent at war and fighting rebellion and
opposition. His devotion to conquering led the Emperor to declare that
no young men of fighting age could be married; they needed to be
focused on being soldiers. Yet, according to tradition, a Christian
priest named Valentine opposed Claudius' decree and married young
Roman soldiers in secret. When this illegal activity was discovered,
Valentine was killed.
**Another tradition tells of a young man named Valentine who was
imprisoned when Claudius II outlawed Christianity. The Emperor
declared Christianity treasonous by definition, since no Christians
would worship Caesar as Lord. Like other Christians, Valentine was
imprisoned for his faith. But, while in prison, he continued to
minister the Gospel of Christ, even to his jailors. He befriended one
jailor, who asked him to pray for his blind adopted daughter.
Valentine prayed for the girl and she gained her eyesight. Valentine
had the opportunity to witness to the jailor and his whole family and
a large number of them believed in Jesus. When the news reached the
Emperor that Valentine was making converts even while in prison, he
had Valentine beheaded. According to the story, young Valentine sent a
note to the healed girl just before his execution, signing it, " from
your Valentine".
