Every February 14th, the world celebrates love and friendship with chocolates, flowers, and heart-shaped everything — but behind it all stands a real saint: Saint Valentine, a third-century priest and martyr who gave his life for Christ.
His relics, scattered across the world, continue to remind us of a love far deeper than romance: the love that sacrifices everything for God.
Here are the five notable churches throughout the world where Saint Valentine's relics rest today:
1) Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin – Rome, Italy
In the heart of Rome, this ancient church holds what many believe to be the skull of Saint Valentine, crowned with flowers each year around his feast day. Pilgrims and couples visit to pray for faithfulness and love rooted in God.
2) Basilica of Saint Valentine – Terni, Italy
Terni, the city where Valentine served as bishop, houses his tomb and major relics. Locals mark his feast with a beautiful festival, honoring their patron as a model of Christian love and commitment.
3) Whitefriar Street Church – Dublin, Ireland
Inside this Carmelite church lies a shrine containing part of Saint Valentine’s relics, gifted by Pope Gregory XVI in the 19th century. Couples often visit to pray together — or to ask for his intercession before marriage.
4) Church of Saints Peter and Paul – Prague, Czech Republic
This Gothic church holds a reliquary with fragments of Saint Valentine’s remains, drawing faithful from across Central Europe who seek the saint’s prayers for love and fidelity.
5) Blessed John Duns Scotus Church – Glasgow, Scotland
A lesser-known site, but no less special — this Scottish church also houses a relic of Saint Valentine, making it a quiet pilgrimage spot for those who want to honor the martyr of love.
These sacred relics may seem like fragments of history, but they tell a timeless story: love that doesn’t die. Saint Valentine wasn’t just a symbol of romance — he was a priest who lived and died for divine love.