Valentine’s Day long ago lost its Christian connotations. What is the story of the original Valentine? Reliable history of him is hard to find. He is believed to have lived in the third century. Some legends say he became a friend of Emperor Claudius, but was executed when he tried to convert the emperor to Christ. Another story suggests Valentine opposed the emperor’s edict to discourage young people from marrying. This was based on a belief that single soldiers fought better. This created an anti-marriage sentiment that resulted in promiscuity. Valentine may have performed marriages in violation of the edict. So, he did not fight just for romance, but for a godly kind of love, devotion and faithfulness.
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