St. Valentine's day in ancient Poland was more than a day for lovers

St. Valentine, the martyr who died in 6th century in Rome, known in the Anglo-Saxon tradition as the patron saint of lovers, was also celebrated in ancient Poland, though for a completely different reason than he is today. Known here for curing epileptics, until the 9th century the sick organized pilgrimages on his day to two churches in Lublin and Chelmno where part of his remains are said to have been kept. Now that epilepsy can be cured, most have forgotten that it was in this way St. Valentine first came to be celebrated in Poland. Though people in Chelmno are proud of having the martyr's relics in their parish, the vicar there says St. Valentine's Day as it is celebrated now is a silly idea. (Zycie, p.2) M.S.C.