In the Western world, February 14 is celebrated as Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day. The adoption of this tradition in Russia is sharply criticized by conservatives, and especially sharply now that there is talk that the “real” Saint Valentine even married same-sex couples. Surprisingly, the version of “Christian gay marriage” has a basis, taken precisely from Orthodox history.
Valentine's Day is an interesting holiday in the sense that every year it acquires new connotations, sometimes very strange ones. At the same time, in Russia recent years It can be called a holiday with a fair amount of convention. It appeared as a copy of Western traditions, gained a foothold thanks to marketers, and was aimed primarily at young people. However, in recent years there have simply been no particularly noisy celebrations of Valentine's Day. The maximum is discounts in stores and “Valentines” at stationery kiosks. Young people prefer to bake pancakes during Maslenitsa week.
Nevertheless, battles over whether this holiday is necessary and how authentic it is for Russia to celebrate it still do not subside, albeit on a residual basis. A special feature of this year is a wave of stories that St. Valentine secretly married gay Roman legionnaires, and therefore this is “an alien date and an alien saint,” although Valentine was recognized as a saint long before the split of the Christian Church into the Western (Catholics) and Eastern (Orthodox) branches .
By the way, it is not known for certain who was married by Saint Valentine and which Valentine he means. Perhaps we are talking about Valentinus of Interamna, a bishop who lived in the Italian city of Termi in the third century. He is known as a preacher and healer, through whose prayers the son of the Roman aristocrat Craton was cured. After this, many people converted to Christianity, including the mayor’s son. Due to this fame, Valentin was taken into custody, and then tortured and beheaded. The memory of this martyr in the Russian Orthodox Church is celebrated on July 30 according to the old style.
There is also Valentin of Rome, also a martyr, who lived around the same time and was also executed. Experts in hagiography, however, say that in the person of Valentin of Rome several passion-bearers who bore this name could have been “united.”
As for the romantic component, the person of St. Valentine acquired it already in the late Middle Ages, more precisely, after the “Golden Legend” of Jacob of Voraginsky - a collection of apocrypha and “entertaining lives of saints”, which appeared around 1260. There were not so many literate people at that time, but among them this reading gained popularity, and therefore the image of St. Valentine as the patron saint of “the young and in love” quickly took hold.
Another thing is that the story of secret weddings does not stand up to historical criticism. The version that is most widespread tells the story of a certain priest and field doctor Valentinus, who lived during the time of Emperor Claudius II. So that men would fight better and carry more willingly military service, Caesar allegedly forbade them to get married, just as he forbade the girls to get married.
There are several nuances here. Firstly, in the third century there was still no separate rite or rite that would record the sacrament of marriage. Secondly, the Roman Empire in those days was completely pagan, and Christians were a marginal and persecuted community. And it is extremely unlikely that “advanced Roman youth” would marry in defiance of the will of the emperor, swearing allegiance to an “incomprehensible god” and not to the “native pagan gods.”
Much more plausible seems to be the version according to which St. Valentine's Day replaced the traditional and no less pagan lupercalia, in the case of which it was also about love and childbearing. It all started before the birth of Christ - in 276 BC, when a sudden “epidemic” of stillbirths and miscarriages occurred in Rome. Since medicine was, as they say, powerless, oracles came to the rescue and warned that women should be subjected to ritual flogging. And the action itself should be dedicated to Faun, one of whose nicknames is Luperk.
On the other hand, the celebration of the “day of the wolf” (Lupus is precisely a wolf) for Rome with its legend of Romulus and Remus, fed by a she-wolf, was very symbolic. As a result, the new holiday became one of the most popular. Luperc priests ran with goat skin belts (a goat was considered to be the most delicious prey for a wolf) and whipped women, and the women willingly exposed themselves to these blows in order to enlist the support of higher powers for the sake of easy childbirth and the health of newborns.
It all ended, like many other Roman holidays, with an orgy.
In 494, when Christianity had already become the dominant religion in the empire, Pope Gelasius I decided to stop Lupercalia, and the holiday of “pagan love” was replaced by the holiday of Christian love. However, a number of researchers find this version not too reliable. If only because replacing one holiday with another is a very long process from a historical perspective, and at the level of everyday paganism, Lupercalia could continue for a long time.
As for the rumors about Valentine and gay marriage, they have some historical basis. The fact is that already in the eastern, Byzantine, church there was such a rite as adelphopoiesis, or “twinning,” which is more correctly called “brotherhood.” We are talking about a friendly union blessed by the church between two people of the same sex, usually men. It also had a place in the Russian Church. For example, it is very likely that it was through adelphopoiesis that Alexander Nevsky and Sartak, the son of Batu, cemented their alliance. There are other political cases of such fraternization.
Over time, this ritual completely fell out of church practice, and one of the versions of why exactly rests on the topic of non-traditional relationships. Yale historian John Boswell has generally interpreted adelphopoiesis as something close to gay marriage, but his approach is disputed by other researchers. And here we must understand that Boswell himself (who, by the way, died of AIDS) can be classified as a gay activist, that is, he was biased in his own way.
Most likely, adelphopoiesis was abandoned due to the extreme politicization of this “brotherhood.” In addition, the family ties of such twin cities were not fully clarified. The Church equated spiritual kinship with blood. If so, the question arises: could the children of “brothers” who underwent adelphopoiesis get married? The people believed that no, they couldn’t.
According to Church history specialist Abbot Athanasius (Selichev), this late Byzantine rite did not take root because of its artificiality and uselessness. “You can fraternize without vows. I also think that this confused the already complicated system of calculating kinship. It prevented the children of sworn brothers from marrying each other. After all, they actually became cousins,” he told the newspaper VZGLYAD.
Whether there was an analogue of adelphopoiesis among Catholics is not the simplest question. The historian Boswell mentioned above believed that no, it was not. His British colleague Alan Bray opposed him and even cited in his book the text of a Catholic rite from Slovenia called “Following the Creation of the Brothers,” although he admitted that much less was known about this phenomenon in the West, therefore, it was less widespread.
One way or another, until the middle of the 20th century in the Roman Church, Valentine's Day was a significant event and one of the obligatory holidays. This continued until the Second Vatican Council of 1962–1965, which changed a lot of fundamental things in the structure of the Roman Church, right up to the emergence of a new order of liturgy, which provoked several schisms and the emergence of the so-called Old Catholics, or Lefebvres (named after the leader of the movement, Cardinal Marcel Lefebvre) .
At the same time, a global audit of saints and holidays associated with these saints was carried out. As a result, in 1969, Valentine's Day as a pan-Catholic holiday was abolished, becoming “optional.” The formal reason for this is the little known nature of all these Saint Valentines. Their canonical lives were too short and vague, too many later changes were made to them.
At the same time, God, as they say, has an excellent sense of humor: now in the Catholic Church February 14 is celebrated as the day of Cyril and Methodius, the enlighteners of the Slavic peoples.
Thus, for almost half a century, Valentine’s Day has been a purely secular holiday, which has very little in common with church tradition (whether Western or Eastern). It has also taken a corresponding place in Russia - as a reason for discounts on cosmetics and other promotions. But faith and the church have nothing to do with it.
Almost all over the world, on February 14, people have been celebrating Valentine's Day for many years. They give hearts to their other halves, most often delighting them with various romantic surprises. However, few people know who Saint Valentine is, where all these traditions came from and why they are so ardently revered in our time. Well, let's try to understand the history of this celebration, plunging into the depths of religion and mythology, as well as focusing on the traditions of various countries and peoples.
Retrospective of legends about the origin of this saint
There are three legends about who Saint Valentine is. More precisely, three people are known under this name. The first is Valentin Rimsky, who worked in Rome as a clergyman. He died in the third century AD as a result of persecutions that occurred during the collapse of the Roman Empire. The second character is Valentin, who also worked in Italy as a church bishop. He was executed in 270 and buried in the Third - a personality completely unknown to the people of our time. Some, however, believe that he was a warrior and died during the campaign against Carthage. With the advent of the Middle Ages, when all kinds of romance, art and other manifestations of beauty were under the strictest ban, people portrayed Valentine as an associate who propagated the church (Catholic) idea throughout the world.
A beautiful fairy tale that could be true
Nowadays, there is the so-called “Golden Legend”, which tells the story of who Saint Valentine is, where he lived and why he became the patron saint of all lovers. So, Claudius II, who once ruled the Roman Empire, felt that young men were reluctant to join his army. It seemed to him that it was their wives who were not letting them go to war, so the emperor signed a decree banning weddings for every unmarried member of the stronger sex. Valentin was a local doctor and preacher of Christianity. Along with this, he secretly married lovers. One day he was approached by a man whose daughter Julia was blind, and he prescribed ointment for her. Later, rumors about secret weddings reached Claudius, and Valentin was locked in prison. Knowing that he would be executed, he sent Julia an envelope, where, along with healing saffron, he left a message with the text “Your Valentine.” The former doctor was executed on February 14, and the girl, having opened the envelope, regained her sight. Officially, this holiday was included in the church canons in 496.
Inconsistencies in the most beautiful legend
The story of Valentine's Day, which was outlined in the previous paragraph, cannot be true for several reasons. Firstly, the holy martyr himself lived in Rome in the third century AD, when wedding rites as such did not yet exist. This is primarily due to the fact that at the moment Christianity had not yet taken over in the Roman Empire, and all citizens, including the ruler, remained pagans. Those getting married could do this both secretly and publicly, so such rumors were unlikely to reach the emperor. Although it is not worth asserting with certainty that every word in this legend is fiction, since a saint with a similar name is fully recognized by the Catholic Church, and most often he is identified with the doctor who prayed for every patient in the world and helped every person who asked him about healing.
Origin of Valentine's Day According to Pagan Theory
Some historians believe that this celebration was invented, like St. Valentine himself, in order to oust a very cruel pagan holiday from Roman traditions. According to a long-standing tradition, the city of Rome was founded by the brothers Romulus and Remus, who were fed by a she-wolf with her milk. That is why every year the inhabitants of the empire sacrificed one sheep (food for wolves), as well as a dog (an animal that wolves hate). The skin of dead animals was divided into narrow thin belts, after which completely naked young guys lashed everyone who got in their way with them. It is noteworthy that young girls tried to fall under these blows, since it was believed that the scars made it possible to successfully marry, bear and give birth to a child. In turn, the history of the appearance of Valentine’s Day here is connected with the fact that these belts were called “february”, and the ritual itself was carried out in the middle of this February, which in Romano-Germanic languages sounds like “february” and its other derivatives.
Love rituals associated with this celebration
In our usual form, Valentine's Day began to be celebrated only in the 19th century in Great Britain. Of course, no one knew who Saint Valentine was, as well as the history of the origin of this entire ritual. For people, this has already become simple entertainment, which appeared either at the behest or by some decree of the local government. However, every year on February 14, young men pulled notes from the drum, which included the names of girls they knew. This is how “couples” were formed, who had to accept each other’s courtship for a year, after which they could separate or get married. Later, this tradition migrated to the USA, where it gained great popularity and new rules, many of which are familiar to us today.
The history of Valentine's Day in the twentieth century
At the dawn of the new century, newly minted businessmen took up such entertainment. Thanks to them, heart-shaped cards, specialized gift bouquets, sweets and other trinkets appeared on sale. Also, the owners of restaurants and cafes began to organize certain programs where only loving couples could attend. Gradually, this celebration became an excellent opportunity to make money by selling postcards, valentines, flowers, good wine and other gifts that today, as a rule, men give to their beloved ladies. In the 21st century, in honor of such a holiday, they don’t organize anything. And specialized DJ sets, films, concerts, and many other events.
Traditions that depend on the culture of a particular country
Even though we now know who Saint Valentine is and that his homeland is Italy, the celebrations held in his honor span the entire world. In England, where the holiday was first celebrated, nowadays people most often use fortune telling... on birds. If on February 14th the first thing you see is a robin, then you and the sailor will live happily ever after. The sparrow is most often found with a poor groom, but the goldfinch is a clear messenger of a rich prince. When this holiday became the property of the Americans, their men took it as a tradition to give marzipan to their other halves. Today, they are easily replaced with chocolate and other confectionery products, but their color must remain red or white. What the French do to their women is they present jewelry and jewelry to those who are loved. But in Japan, citizens limit themselves only to chocolate. Moreover, this product is a manifestation of pure love, and both men and women can confess their feelings.
Brief conclusion
This mysterious and varied origin of Valentine's Day has made it a worldwide celebration. In our country it also gained popularity, but only in the early 1990s. It is also common throughout the world to believe that marriages entered into on February 14 will not only be happy, but also eternal.
On February 14, lovers celebrate Valentine's Day. AiF.ru tells where the tradition of giving valentines came from, what myths and legends formed the basis of the holiday and who Saint Valentine really was.
Legends and myths about Saint Valentine
The Catholic Church venerates three martyred saints named Valentine, but there is almost no reliable information about their lives. It is only known that Valentine of Rome was a priest and suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Christians in the 3rd century AD. e. Another Valentine was the bishop of Interamna (now the city of Terni, Italy). He was executed for his faith on February 14, 270 and buried near Rome. The saint is revered by both Catholics and Orthodox. All we know about the third Valentine is that he died in Carthage.
More detailed information about the holy martyrs appeared already in the era of the Mature Middle Ages (in the 11th-14th centuries). But at first they also lacked any romantic overtones. It is likely that the legends are talking about another saint or even different ascetics with the name Valentin.
Saint Valentine of Terni and his disciples. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
"Golden Legend"
According to legend, the Roman Emperor Claudius II could not recruit enough soldiers into his army. Then he decided that it was the wives who did not let their husbands go to war, and forbade young men to marry.
Saint Valentine was a healer and preacher of Christianity. He not only prayed for the sick, but also secretly married lovers, despite the prohibition of King Claudius. One day a prison guard turned to him for help. He asked to heal his daughter Julia from blindness. The priest prescribed eye ointment for the girl and told her to come back later.
St. Valentine also heals epilepsy. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
However, rumors about secret weddings reached the emperor, and Saint Valentine was imprisoned. Knowing that he would soon be executed, Valentin wrote a suicide note to blind Julia with a declaration of love and gave it to her through her father.
Valentin was executed on the same day, February 14. When the girl opened the note, inside it was saffron and the signature “Your Valentine.” Julia took the saffron in her hands, and her vision was miraculously restored.
Subsequently, as a Christian martyr who suffered for the faith, Valentin of Interamna was canonized by the Catholic Church. And in 496, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th Valentine's Day.
This story can be called fiction, if only because in the time of St. Valentine (in the 3rd century) there was no special church wedding ceremony for marriage. In addition, the Christian religion in pagan Rome was despised and persecuted, and it is unlikely that Emperor Claudius attached great importance to this rite.
Pagan roots
According to another version, the church needed Valentine's Day to supplant the pagan holiday. The Romans believed that the founders of their city - the brothers Romulus and Remus - were fed by a she-wolf with her milk. In honor of this animal, “lupercalia” was celebrated (from lupus - wolf). A goat (the food of wolves) and a dog (the animal most hated by the wolf) were sacrificed. Then the slaughtered animals were skinned and their skins were cut into narrow belts. Two naked young men took these belts and began a ritual run, during which they lashed everyone they came across with the belts. Women and girls deliberately exposed various parts of their bodies to blows, as it was believed that this would help them become pregnant and give birth easily.
The sacred belts were called “februa”, from this word came the name of the month, in the middle of which Lupercalia was celebrated - “february” (February).
Relics of Saint Valentine in Terni. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org/Freaks
Holiday traditions
Valentine's Day only began to gain widespread popularity in the 19th century in Great Britain. Later, the holiday began to be celebrated in the USA. On this day, young people were supposed to pull notes from the bowl with the names of girls they knew. The resulting couples were “Valentines” for a year and accepted each other’s attentions and courtship.
In the middle of the 19th century, businessmen began promoting the holiday. On February 14, lovers arrange romantic dates for each other, buy heart-shaped cards - “Valentines” - and other cute gifts: plush toys, perfume, bouquets of flowers, sweets, etc.
St. Valentine's Church in Dublin. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org/Blackfish
IN different countries We have developed our own traditions for celebrating Valentine's Day. So, in Japan it is customary to give chocolate. On this day, a Japanese woman can, without hesitation, confess her love to a man.
In England, on February 14, girls told fortunes about their betrothed. There was such a belief: if you see a robin on this day, it means your husband will be a sailor, a sparrow - you will marry a poor man, a goldfinch you meet foretells a rich husband.
IN early XIX centuries in America, it was customary for brides to give marzipan - a rather expensive delicacy for those times. Nowadays women are given chocolate, sweets and red and caramel white flowers, symbolizing love and purity.
The French give their chosen ones jewelry and jewelry.
Many people believe that if you propose on February 14 or get married on this day, the marriage will be happy and strong.
At the same time, Saint Valentine himself and the religious origins of the holiday are remembered extremely rarely.
Valentine's Day for Orthodox and Catholics
Saint Valentine is revered by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. In the Catholic liturgical calendar, February 14 celebrates the memory of Saints Cyril and Methodius.
The Hieromartyr Valentin remained on the lists of the church, but only as a locally revered saint, since historical information information about his actions is extremely scarce. Thus, this holiday is not obligatory for either Catholics or Orthodox Christians.
Valentine's Day came to Russia relatively recently. It began to gain popularity only in the early 1990s.
On January 15, 2003, the Bishop of the Italian city of Terni, Vincenzo Paglia, donated to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy particles of the relics of the Hieromartyr Valentine, which have since been kept in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
In the Orthodox Church, the two martyrs Valentine have their own days of remembrance. Valentine the Roman, a presbyter, is venerated on July 19, and the Hieromartyr Valentine, Bishop of Interamna, on August 12.
In the Orthodox tradition, Saints Peter and Fevronia have been considered patrons of family and marriage since ancient times. In 2008, the Federation Council of Russia approved the initiative to establish on the day of their memory (July 8 of the new style, which corresponds to June 25 of the old style) the “Day of Married Love and Family Happiness.” Read about analogues of the holiday in other countries and cultures in the article.
St. Valentine of Rome baptizes St. Lucilla (circa 1575). Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Jacopo Bassano
birds; roses; bishop carrying a sword; bishop holding the sun
miraculous healings, confession of faith in Christ
Life and legends
The first reliable evidence of the veneration of Valentine the Roman dates back to 7th century and recorded in the Martyrdom of Mary and Martha (BHL 5543). As for Valentine of Interamna, his life (BHL 8460) was written somewhat earlier, in the 7th century. Both texts are extremely typified and can with great difficulty be considered as reliable evidence.
In the early lists of Roman martyrs, Valentine is not mentioned; undoubtedly, their veneration is recorded no earlier than the beginning of the 7th century. Memory is missing in the most complete spare. Martyrology of the Blessed. Jerome and appears only in the sacramentary of Pope Gregory I the Great (590-604), from where it was transferred to the Martyrology of Bede the Venerable. There is indirect evidence of the existence of the cult of St. Valentine in Rome already in the 4th century, which is shown by the fact of the construction of two basilicas. According to information from the Roman Chronograph (354), one is “ which was called Valentina" - was built during the pontificate of Julius I (337-352) on the Via Flaminia (" on the second miliaria of the Via Flaminia, quae appellatur Valentini""). At the same time, this name may indicate that a certain Valentin was the construction supervisor. The second was built in the city of Terni over the supposed tomb of Valentine, Bishop of Interam, but it was mentioned only in the middle of the 8th century (LP 1, 427).
Relics
To possess the relics of St. Valentine is claimed by many temples and monasteries. Despite the fact that the saint’s skull, decorated with a wreath, has long been in the Roman basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, the Vatican recognized as relics the remains extracted in 1836 from the catacombs of Hippolytus on the Via Tiburtine. Pope Gregory XVI gave this relic to the Carmelite Church in Whitefrair Street, Dublin.
Also claiming possession of the relics are the Roquemore Cathedral in France, the Cathedral of St. Stephen's in Vienna, the Basilica in Balzan in Malta, the Church of St. Peter and Paul in the Czech Visegrad, Greek Catholic Church of the Nativity Holy Mother of God in Sambir and a temple in Polish Chelmno. About the desecration of the relics of St. Valentine in the Trinity Church of the city of Berestechko is narrated by I. Babel in the story “At St. Valentine’s” from the collection “Cavalry”.
Reverence
In the West, the memory of Valentine the Roman and Valentine, the bishop of Interamna, was celebrated on the same day from the 7th century - February 14 (see St. Valentine's Day).
In the Catholic Church in 1969, when revising the general liturgical calendar of St. Valentine was excluded from the list of saints whose memory is obligatory for liturgical veneration. Currently, the saint's memory is celebrated locally in a number of dioceses. In Russia, on February 14, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, educators of the Slavs.
In Orthodoxy, the memory of both martyrs is celebrated on different days: July 6 (19 New Art.) - the memory of Valentin the Roman, hieromartyr, presbyter, and July 30 (August 12 New Art.) - the memory of Valentin of Interam, hieromartyr, bishop.
In the Belarusian city of Smolevichi there is a Catholic church dedicated to St. Valentine. Also near it there is a monument to the saint.
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Notes
Links
- (English)
- Catholic Encyclopedia. Ed. Franciscans, M.: 2002.
- (Russian) - Saints and Blesseds of the Catholic Church
- (biographical radio play)
Excerpt characterizing Saint Valentine
[Death is salutary and death is calm;ABOUT! against suffering there is no other refuge.]
Julie said it was lovely.
“II y a quelque chose de si ravissant dans le sourire de la melancolie, [There is something infinitely charming in the smile of melancholy," she said to Boris word for word, copying this passage from the book.
– C "est un rayon de lumiere dans l" ombre, une nuance entre la douleur et le desespoir, qui montre la consolation possible. [This is a ray of light in the shadows, a shade between sadness and despair, which indicates the possibility of consolation.] - To this Boris wrote her poetry:
"Aliment de poison d"une ame trop sensible,
"Toi, sans qui le bonheur me serait impossible,
"Tendre melancolie, ah, viens me consoler,
“Viens calmer les tourments de ma sombre retraite
"Et mele une douceur secrete
"A ces pleurs, que je sens couler."
[Poisonous food for an overly sensitive soul,
You, without whom happiness would be impossible for me,
Tender melancholy, oh, come and comfort me,
Come, soothe the torment of my dark solitude
And add secret sweetness
To these tears that I feel flowing.]
Julie played Boris the saddest nocturnes on the harp. Boris read Poor Liza aloud to her and more than once interrupted his reading from the excitement that took his breath away. Meeting in a large society, Julie and Boris looked at each other as the only indifferent people in the world who understood each other.
Anna Mikhailovna, who often went to the Karagins, making up her mother’s party, meanwhile made correct inquiries about what was given for Julie (both Penza estates and Nizhny Novgorod forests were given). Anna Mikhailovna, with devotion to the will of Providence and tenderness, looked at the refined sadness that connected her son with the rich Julie.
“Toujours charmante et melancolique, cette chere Julieie,” she said to her daughter. - Boris says that he rests his soul in your house. “He has suffered so many disappointments and is so sensitive,” she told her mother.
“Oh, my friend, how attached I have become to Julie lately,” she said to her son, “I can’t describe to you!” And who can not love her? This is such an unearthly creature! Ah, Boris, Boris! “She fell silent for a minute. “And how I feel sorry for her maman,” she continued, “today she showed me reports and letters from Penza (they have a huge estate) and she is poor, all alone: she is so deceived!
Boris smiled slightly as he listened to his mother. He meekly laughed at her simple-minded cunning, but listened and sometimes asked her carefully about the Penza and Nizhny Novgorod estates.
Julie had long been expecting a proposal from her melancholic admirer and was ready to accept it; but some secret feeling of disgust for her, for her passionate desire to get married, for her unnaturalness, and a feeling of horror at the renunciation of the possibility true love still stopped Boris. His vacation was already over. He spent whole days and every single day with the Karagins, and every day, reasoning with himself, Boris told himself that he would propose tomorrow. But in the presence of Julie, looking at her red face and chin, almost always sprinkled with powder, at her moist eyes and at the expression of her face, which always expressed a readiness to immediately move from melancholy to the unnatural delight of marital happiness, Boris could not utter a decisive word: despite the fact that for a long time in his imagination he considered himself the owner of Penza and Nizhny Novgorod estates and distributed the use of income from them. Julie saw Boris's indecisiveness and sometimes the thought occurred to her that she was disgusted with him; but immediately the woman’s self-delusion came to her as a consolation, and she told herself that he was shy only out of love. Her melancholy, however, began to turn into irritability, and not long before Boris left, she undertook a decisive plan. At the same time that Boris’s vacation was ending, Anatol Kuragin appeared in Moscow and, of course, in the Karagins’ living room, and Julie, unexpectedly leaving her melancholy, became very cheerful and attentive to Kuragin.
“Mon cher,” Anna Mikhailovna said to her son, “je sais de bonne source que le Prince Basile envoie son fils a Moscou pour lui faire epouser Julieie.” [My dear, I know from reliable sources that Prince Vasily sends his son to Moscow in order to marry him to Julie.] I love Julie so much that I would feel sorry for her. What do you think, my friend? - said Anna Mikhailovna.
The thought of being a fool and wasting this entire month of difficult melancholy service under Julie and seeing all the income from the Penza estates already allocated and properly used in his imagination in the hands of another - especially in the hands of the stupid Anatole, offended Boris. He went to the Karagins with the firm intention of proposing. Julie greeted him with a cheerful and carefree look, casually talked about how much fun she had at yesterday's ball, and asked when he was leaving. Despite the fact that Boris came with the intention of talking about his love and therefore intended to be gentle, he irritably began to talk about women's inconstancy: how women can easily move from sadness to joy and that their mood depends only on who looks after them. Julie was offended and said that it was true that a woman needs variety, that everyone will get tired of the same thing.
“For this, I would advise you...” Boris began, wanting to tell her a caustic word; but at that very moment the offensive thought came to him that he could leave Moscow without achieving his goal and losing his work for nothing (which had never happened to him). He stopped in the middle of his speech, lowered his eyes so as not to see her unpleasantly irritated and indecisive face and said: “I didn’t come here at all to quarrel with you.” On the contrary...” He glanced at her to make sure he could continue. All her irritation suddenly disappeared, and her restless, pleading eyes were fixed on him with greedy expectation. “I can always arrange it so that I rarely see her,” thought Boris. “And the work has begun and must be done!” He blushed, looked up at her and told her: “You know my feelings for you!” There was no need to say any more: Julie’s face shone with triumph and self-satisfaction; but she forced Boris to tell her everything that is said in such cases, to say that he loves her, and has never loved any woman more than her. She knew that she could demand this for the Penza estates and Nizhny Novgorod forests and she got what she demanded.
The bride and groom, no longer remembering the trees that showered them with darkness and melancholy, made plans for the future arrangement of a brilliant house in St. Petersburg, made visits and prepared everything for a brilliant wedding.
Count Ilya Andreich arrived in Moscow at the end of January with Natasha and Sonya. The Countess was still unwell and could not travel, but it was impossible to wait for her recovery: Prince Andrei was expected to go to Moscow every day; in addition, it was necessary to purchase a dowry, it was necessary to sell the property near Moscow, and it was necessary to take advantage of the presence of the old prince in Moscow to introduce him to his future daughter-in-law. The Rostovs' house in Moscow was not heated; in addition, they arrived for a short time, the countess was not with them, and therefore Ilya Andreich decided to stay in Moscow with Marya Dmitrievna Akhrosimova, who had long offered her hospitality to the count.
In many countries around the world it is customary to celebrate Valentine's Day.The history of this holiday is very interesting, although at the same time somewhat confusing. Some people call it “Valentine’s Day”, “Love Day”, etc. As a rule, on this day people give each other heart-shaped cards called “Valentines”, either out of friendship or to confess their sympathy. Also, there are many other customs for this day. The tradition of the celebration is very extensive, there is a lot of paganism in it... The most important thing in this holiday, as a rule, is considered to be the love of a man and a woman. And at the same time, few people think that this is also the day of remembrance of a certain saint.
Did such a saint really exist, and is he revered in Orthodox tradition? Let's figure it out! To understand this issue, let’s turn to authoritative Internet sources.
Saint Valentine(lat. Valentinus) - the name of several early Christian holy martyrs. Almost nothing is known about their lives; it is even impossible to reliably establish whether they were really different persons or whether we are talking about different lives of the same saint.
Martyrologies mention Valentine, a Roman priest who was beheaded around 269; as well as Valentin, the bishop of Interamna (modern Terni), known for miraculous healings and executed for converting the mayor’s son to Christianity. In connection with the holiday of February 14, a martyr with the same name who suffered in the Roman province of Africa is also mentioned.
In early lists of Roman martyrs, Valentine is not mentioned. However, the cult of St. Valentine was widespread in Rome already in IV century, which shows the fact that two basilicas were erected at that time. One was built around 350 during the pontificate of Julius. II on the Via Flaminia in the place where, according to legend, Valentine the Roman was buried. The second was built in the city of Terni over the supposed tomb of Valentine, Bishop of Interam. The holiday of February 14 in memory of both saints was established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I.
In the West, the memory of Valentin the Roman and Valentin - Bishop of Interamna with V centuries was celebrated on one day - February 14. In the Catholic Church in 1969, when revising the general liturgical calendar, St. Valentine was excluded from the list of saints whose memory is obligatory for liturgical veneration. Currently, the saint's memory is celebrated locally in a number of dioceses. In Russia, on February 14, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, educators of the Slavs.
The Golden Legend of the 13th century provides very little information about Saint Valentine, in particular, it says that he refused to renounce Christ before the Emperor Claudius and was beheaded for this.
In the late Middle Ages in France and England, the life of St. Valentina gradually began to acquire legends associated with the secret wedding of couples in love. According to them, Emperor Claudius II forbade soldiers to marry so that they would not be distracted from their service. Valentin secretly married those who wished and was sentenced to death for this. Various legends provide details about the farewell letter that Valentine wrote before his execution to a blind girl (according to other versions, the jailer’s daughter) and which healed her.
In the 17th century in France, the historian Tillemont, and later in the 18th century in England, Butler and Douce, suggested that St. Valentine's Day was introduced to replace the pagan rite of choosing the names of lovers at random on the eve of the feast of the goddess Juno, celebrated on February 15 (see Lupercalia).
The relics of St. Valentine are kept in the Carmelite Church on Whitefriar Street, Ireland, Dublin "Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church".
In Orthodoxy, the memory of both martyrs is celebrated on different days: July 6 (19 New Art.) - the memory of Valentin the Roman, hieromartyr, presbyter, and July 30 (August 12 New Art.) - the memory of Valentin of Interam, hieromartyr, bishop.
In the city of Smolevichi there is a Catholic church dedicated to St. Valentine. Also near it there is a monument to the saint.
Based on materials from http://ru. wikipedia. org
Was there really such a saint?
Yes, St. Valentine lived in the Italian city of Terni in the 3rd century and was executed on February 14, 270.
Is he “our” saint or Catholic?
Our. All the saints who accomplished their feat in Western Europe before 1054, that is, before the date of the break between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, these are our Orthodox saints.
But maybe, even though he lived in Orthodox times, only Catholics realized his holiness and he is a saint only according to Catholic, but not Orthodox criteria?
No, Valentine was glorified as a saint long before the break between West and East. It is usually said that this canonization was performed by Pope Gelasius in 494.
It is possible that Valentine, remembered on February 14, is already known to our calendar - as the holy martyr Valentin of Interam (or Italy); His memory is celebrated on August 12 according to the new style (July 30 according to the old style).
But it may well turn out that this is another person about whom we have known nothing until now.
And in the case of the veneration of St. Valentine, it may be that the memory of the more famous ascetic absorbed the memory of other saints named after him.
The veneration of saints can be different - it can be universal, and it can be local. We don’t know all the saints who are venerated in this or that monastery in Georgia...
In addition, if in fact it was Pope Gelasius who appointed the memory of St. Valentine on February 14, then this act of his occurred at the time of the rupture in relations between the Roman Church and the Church of Constantinople (from 484 to 519). These were the years of the so-called “Akakian schism.” The truth in this schism was on the side of Rome, which Constantinople eventually recognized. So the decisions made at that time in Rome simply did not reach the Christian East. But this did not stop them from being Orthodox decisions.
Finally, on the website of the TVS television channel you can see a photograph of Patriarch Alexy II kissing the ark with the relics of St. Valentina.
Here is the official information: « During a meeting held on January 15, 2003 at the Patriarch’s working residence in Chisty Lane, a donation took place to the Russian Orthodox Church particles of the relics of St. Valentine of Interam. The ceremony was attended by the Bishop of Terni, Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia, the Vicar General of the diocese, Monsignor Antonio Magniero, the Vice-Mayor of the city of Terni, Eros Brega, the President of the Province of Terni, Bruno Semproni, and other members of the Italian delegation.
The idea of transferring to the Russian Orthodox Church a particle of the relics of the heavenly patron saint of the city of Terni, Saint Valentine, who died as a martyr in the 3rd century, was expressed by Bishop Vincenzo Paglia after the completion of a meeting in July 2001 between the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the leadership of the Catholic peacemaking charitable organization “Community of Saint Aegidius”, whose confessor is Monsignor V. Paglia. Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia called it symbolic that the transfer of a particle of the relics of St. Valentine takes place on the day of the celebration of the memory of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the 100th anniversary of whose canonization the Russian Orthodox Church will celebrate this year. Thanking Bishop Vincenzo Paglia for this gift,
Holy Pa Triarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II said, that the ark with a particle of the relics of St. Valentine will remain in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, where every believer will be able to pray before this shrine of the ancient undivided Christian Church . “The 20th century became a century of difficult trials for the Russian Orthodox Church,” said His Holiness the Patriarch. “We turn our prayers with hope to the martyrs of the first centuries of Christianity, who testified to the pagan world about the Savior, remaining faithful to Him “even to death.” The history of the Church continues. Already in our time, many thousands of Russian new martyrs and confessors have joined the host of God’s saints. and centuries ago, the blood of the martyrs establishes and confirms the Church of Christ.” “Patriarch Alexy, accepting the gift, noted that “with great emotion he accepted a particle of the relics of the holy martyr Valentine, the saint of the Undivided Church.” “I perceive this act of transferring a particle of the relics of the Holy Martyr Valentin as a spiritual act, an act that will help Russians, Orthodox believers in Russia to pray, not only remembering the memory of the Holy Martyr Valentin, but to pray in front of a particle of his holy relics.”
Based on materials http://www.kazan.eparhia.ru/zhurnal/?id=18121
The custom of celebrating Valentine's Day on February 14 is commented on by priest Kirill Gorbunov, director of the information service of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Our Lady in Moscow :
“Many people think that Valentine's Day is some kind of incredible celebration for the entire Catholic Church. In fact, this is a locally revered saint; in the calendar of the Catholic Church in Russia, his memory is optional, and the main holiday for Catholics on February 14 is the memory of Saints Cyril and Methodius, patrons of Europe and educators of the Slavs, which I speak about with full responsibility, since I bear the names both of these saints.
On the other hand, even if Saint Valentine himself did not expect that he would be entrusted with the “duty” of being the patron saint of all lovers, I think he gladly accepted it, because this is actually a very important and responsible matter. Falling in love is a difficult and often dangerous experience, when a person especially needs the presence of God and the intercession of the saints.”
Based on materials from http://www.pravmir.ru
Bishop of St. martyr Valentin Interamsky
Little is known about the life of Valentin Interamsky. The icon of Valentin of Interam symbolizes the faith of the Christian people.
Valentin Interamsky lived in the 3rd century in Rome. He was a bishop in the city of Interam, which was eventually renamed Terni.
Saint Valentine was a skilled physician and possessed the gift of healing. The pagan Carton turned to him with a request to cure his son Herimon, who was bent to the knees by illness, and he could not straighten up; it was most likely chondrosis. Valentin began to pray over the sick man and, most likely, Herimon was cured not by the art of medicine, but by prayer. After recovery, Herimon and his father Carton, as well as many of his disciples, believed in the Lord. The mayor, whose son Avundin also accepted faith in the Lord, learned about the mass baptism. The mayor became angry and ordered Saint Valentine to be imprisoned. In prison, he continued to heal and convert prisoners to the Christian faith. The angry mayor ordered the saint to be tortured and then killed. His disciples carried the body to the city of Interam. In the fourth century, a basilica was built in honor of St. Valentine, which, thanks to reconstructions, has survived to this day. Here, in the main altar, the holy relics of Valentin of Interam are kept.
Christians venerate the saint and celebrate his honor by praying before the image depicted by the icon of the holy martyr Valentine of Interam.
St. martyr Valentine
The martyrs of Christ Pasikrates and Valentinus came from Rhodostos, a Mysian city, and, being warriors, served under the hegemon of that country, Avsolan. There were many idolaters in the country who made sacrifices to demons, for the rulers of the country, with the threat of torture, forced people to idolatry. The Christians of that country, fearing torture, fled and hid. These same two holy men openly and boldly declared themselves Christians and, glorifying the one true God, destroyed soulless idols. For this they were seized by idolaters and brought to the judgment seat, where they were forced to burn incense in front of the idols. There was an idol of Apollo here. Saint Pasikrates, approaching the idol, spat in its face and said: “Such honor befits this god!” Pasikrates was immediately tied up with heavy chains and thrown into prison. The warrior of Christ, adorned with these chains, as if decorated with golden royal attire, rejoiced that he was honored to wear these chains for Christ. Valentina was imprisoned with him. Soon they were again demanded for trial before the hegemon. When they appeared at the court, Pasikrates' brother Papian also came there. He was a Christian, but for fear of torment he sacrificed to idols. Papian began with tears to beg his brother to, following the example of himself, bring incense to the idol, so that, having become for a while, as it were, an idolater, he would get rid of fierce torment, but Pasicrates rejected his brother’s request and called him unworthy to be considered in his family because he departed from the faith of Christ. He himself, approaching the altar and placing his hand on the fire, said to the hegemon: “The body is mortal and, as you yourself see, burns in the fire, but the soul, being immortal, despises these visible torments.” Saint Valentine, interrogated by the same hegemons, said the same thing and showed his complete readiness to endure all torment for Christ. They were both sentenced to be beheaded with the sword. When the tormentor's servants led them outside the city to their death, Pasikrates' mother followed them, who admonished him to go to his death without fear, fearing for him, so that he would not be afraid, for he was very young. The heads of the holy martyrs were beheaded. Saint Pasicrates was twenty-two years old, and Valentine was thirty. The mother received their bodies with joy and joy, and buried them with honor, glorifying Christ God.