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KF5JRV > TODAY 14.02.19 14:19l 50 Lines 2263 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 31232_KF5JRV
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Subj: Today in History - Feb 14
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<IK6ZDE<VE2PKT<OK2PEN<GB7CIP<AB0AF<KF5JRV
Sent: 190214/1215Z 31232@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ6.0.18
On February 14around the year 278A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome
in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed.
Under the rule of Claudius the Cruel, Rome was involved in many
unpopular and bloody campaigns. The emperor had to maintain a strong
army, but was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his
military leagues. Claudius believed that Roman men were unwilling to
join the army because of their strong attachment to their wives and
families.
To get rid of the problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements
in Rome. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied
Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.
When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be
put to death. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of
Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his
head cut off. The sentence was carried out on February 14, on or about
the year 270.
Legend also has it that while in jail, St. Valentine left a farewell
note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it
“From Your Valentine.ö
For his great service, Valentine was named a saint after his death.
In truth, the exact origins and identity of St. Valentine are unclear.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “At least three different Saint
Valentines, all of them martyrs, are mentioned in the early
martyrologies under the date of 14 February.ö One was a priest in Rome,
the second one was a bishop of Interamna (now Terni, Italy) and the
third St. Valentine was a martyr in the Roman province of Africa.
Legends vary on how the martyr’s name became connected with romance. The
date of his death may have become mingled with the Feast of Lupercalia,
a pagan festival of love. On these occasions, the names of young women
were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance
directed. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius decided to put an end to the Feast of
Lupercalia, and he declared that February 14 be celebrated as St
Valentine’s Day.
Gradually, February 14 became a date for exchanging love messages, poems
and simple gifts such as flowers.
73 de Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
email: KF5JRV@ICLOUD.COM
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