The year 2003, when the reliquary was discovered, marks the beginning of the tradition of the Saint Valentine Pilgrimage. This event is in sharp contrast to the commercial mania that overtakes shopping centres during this time.
Where is the pilgrimage?
The Saint Valentine pilgrimage for betrothed couples will be held on Saturday, 11th February 2012. “The programme features spiritual exercises for betrothed couples between 9 am and 3 pm and a pilgrim’s mass that will start at 3.30 pm in the Church of St Peter and Paul,” said Aleš Pištora, the spokesman of the Archdiocese of Prague. For details, visit http://cpr.apha.cz/valentin/. The pilgrimage devoted to betrothed couples comes before the National Day of Marriage (www.tydenmanzelstvi.cz<http://www.tydenmanzelstvi.cz>), which happens between 13th and 19th February 2011.
Who exactly was Saint Valentine
St Valentine of Terni was a bishop who died martyr's death back in the 3rd century. At this time, Emperor Marcus Aurelius Claudius abolished marriage because he considered married men to be bad soldiers. Allegedly Saint Valentine kept wedding lovers in clandestine secret in Rome and advised married men not to go to war and to stay with their wives. When the secret came to light, Claudius ordered Valentine’s execution on 14th February 269. However it was not until the end of the 70s Valentine’s name was included in the liturgical calendar, but today he counts amongst the most famous of saints.
