Saint Valentine of Terni
Bishop of Terni in the 3rd century, Valentine converted the philosopher Craton and several disciples after miraculously healing his son. Refusing idolatry, he was beheaded by order of the judge Placidus. His cult is associated with healings and, later, with protection against rodents at Jumièges.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
SAINT VALENTINE, BISHOP OF TERNI (273).
The miracle of the healing
Valentine, Bishop of Terni, miraculously heals the son of the pagan philosopher Craton after demanding the conversion of his entire family.
Valentine, Bishop of Tern i, in Umbria, was a man powerful in works and in words. He performed great miracles: among others, he healed of a humanly incurable disease the son of Craton, a philo sopher very well known in his city. This unhappy father himself very urgently requested this healing, although he was still a pagan.
Valentine made him the promise, if he would first be instructed, he and his family, in the Christian religion and receive the sacrament of baptismal regeneration. This prerequisite having been accepted and executed by Craton and by all the persons of his household, Valentine began to pray, and health was suddenly restored to the young man, which filled his whole family with great joy.
Conversions and condemnation
The miracle led to the conversion of three Athenian students and the prefect Abundius, provoking the execution of Valentine by the judge Placidus.
This prodigy also served for the conversion of three young Athenians who were studying under Craton, na mely: Pr oc ulus, P hobi us, and Ap ollonius, as well as that of the prefect of the city, na med Abundi us. The judge Placidus, learning of this event, had the prelate beheaded, after having vainly attempted to lead him to idolatry.
The fate of the disciples and the relics
Valentin's disciples transport his body to Terni before being martyred themselves; his skull is later honored in Kirdorf.
The three young men named above transported him secretly to the city of Terni , and for this deed, having been arrested by Licentius, they se aled with their blood the faith they had received from Valentin. The skull of Valentin, martyr, is preserved today in the city of Kir dorf and is hono red there by a great gathering of people.
Legend of the rodents of Jumièges
A late tradition reports that Saint Valentine delivered the Jumièges peninsula from an invasion of rats and field mice.
In the 21st century, when t he Jumièges peninsula was ravaged by field mice and rats, Saint Valentine, Bishop of Terni, was invoked, who drove all this vermin to the Seine: The route and the abyss where these rodents went to drown are still shown. One is called the path and the other the hole of the islands.
Documentary sources
The information is based on the Proper of Mainz and the work of Abbé Cochet on the Seine-Inférieure.
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Entities
Narrative network
The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.
The supernatural in their life
The miracles of Saint Valentine of Terni
Frequently asked questions about Saint Valentine of Terni
Who was Saint Valentine of Terni?
Bishop of Terni in the 3rd century, Valentine converted the philosopher Craton and several disciples after miraculously healing his son. Refusing idolatry, he was beheaded by order of the judge Placidus. His cult is associated with healings and, later, with protection against rodents at Jumièges.
What is Saint Valentine of Terni the patron saint of?
Patronage of Saint Valentine of Terni: Terni and Kirdorf.
What is Saint Valentine of Terni invoked for?
Saint Valentine of Terni is invoked for: incurable diseases and infestation of field mice and rats.
How is Saint Valentine of Terni depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Saint Valentine of Terni is recognizable by: skull (relics).
How did Saint Valentine of Terni die?
Saint Valentine of Terni suffered martyrdom for the Christian faith (3rd century).
What miracles are attributed to Saint Valentine of Terni?
2 miracles are attributed to this saint, notably: Healing, Conversion and Sign / wonder.
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Valentine of Terni?
Contemporaries include: Saint Irenaeus of Lyon, Saint Ausonius of Angoulême, Saint Firmin of Pamplona and Saint Baudilus.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Miraculous healing of the philosopher Craton's son
- Conversion of Craton and his family
- Conversion of three Athenian students and the prefect Abundius
- Refusal to sacrifice to idols before Judge Placidus
- Decapitation