Saint Valentines

Bishop of Interamna was linked to love because he was the first religious patron to oversee the marriage celebration between a Christian woman and a pagan man.

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Around the 3rd century A.D the Gnostic Catholic Church in Rome became known as Valentinians.

Later, Orthodox Church suppressed the Gnostic Catholics and there was said to  have been "St. Valentine".

From the Catholic Encyclopedia:

"At least three different Saint Valentines, all of them martyrs, are mentioned in the early martyrologies under date of 14 February.

One is described as a priest at Rome, another as bishop of Interamna (modern Terni )...

Of the third Saint Valentine, who suffered in Africa with a number of companions, nothing further is known."

It stated all three St. Valentine were said to have been martyred on 14th February. I suspect that it possible that the two saints are the same man if they even existed in the first place.

Pope Gelasius intended to honor the Bishop of Interamna. This St. Valentine was a priest who lived around 270 AD in Rome. It is this St. Valentine whom the modern Valentine's Day honors.

Claudius II Gothicus outlawed marriages, he felt that married men were more emotionally attached to their families, and thus, will not make good soldiers. All marriages were  by Rome. Christianity was under persecution in defiance of this Roman law, the Bishop priest secretly performed secret marriages of them.

He was sentenced to death on February 14th. The day before he was to die, he sent a note to the jailor's daughter and signed it "from your Valentine". He was then scourged, imprisoned and beheaded by the Roman Placidus, Prefect of Interanma.

"Valentinus of Rome was beheaded on the celebration day of the Roman God Juno, 14 Feb. 269 AD. Pope Gelasius created an official day of the church (St. Valentine's Day, in memory of the priest) on 14 Feb. 496 AD."

It is said in order to prevent a Christian uprising, he was buried quickly with his body hidden. But three of his disciples found the body and moved it to Terni, where every year now on February 14th exhibits, fairs and cultural events are held in his name.