"The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in the Nuremberg Chronicle, (1493); alongside the woodcut portrait of Valentine the text states that he was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius II, known as Claudius Gothicus. He was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't finish him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. Various dates are given for the martyrdom or martyrdoms: 269, 270, or 273.[8]"...Quoted from Wikipedia Entry on St. Valentine.
Now let's get this straight, so to speak. One plausible real person, made patron saint of St. Valentine's Day, the most mainstream holiday of romance and marriage in the Christian world, was a Christian priest martyred for marrying (political) minority couples by an intolerant (polytheistic) state? Well now, I guess we can all take a lesson from that, can't we?
