On 14th February  Catholics celebrate Valentine`s Day, while Orthodox traditionally celebrate Saint  Tryphon.

Saint Valentine was a holly priest in the 3th century, who had perished when Emperor Claudius II in ancient Rome banned marriages for young men, potential soldiers. Valentine began performing marriages of young Christian couples in secret, until he was discovered and then executed on February 14 in 269.  According to the legend, Valentine sent a letter before his death to jailer’s blind daughter. The letter was gratitude for her kindness with saffron in it. The letter was signed “from your Valentine” and it turned out to have magic power, because she retrieved her eyesight after she received the letter. It is believed that since then men send love messages to their sweethearts and that St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers.

St. Tryphon is the Martyr from 3th century, who possessed healing powers. Tryphon and his prayers cured many people which were sick with various diseases. He also cured daughter of the Roman Emperor Gordian. She was suffering from a serious mental illness that any doctor could not cure. Therefore, he was awarded with many gifts from the emperor, which he shared with the poor. During the Roman emperor Decius (who was born on territory of today`s Serbia), he suffered terrible torture and eventually died. Believing in the miraculous power of St. Tryphon’s prayer, the Serbian Orthodox Church established a special prayer act which is performed in the fields, gardens and vineyards. It is a common custom among winegrowers that on February 14th visit their vineyards where they are pruning vines and pouring over vines with wine in order to restore the vineyard’s energy after a long .

No matter which Saint you celebrate, we suggest that you take best of both customs, spend this day in a company of your loved ones with a glass of wine in your hand 😉