The holiday of Valentine’s Day began in ancient Rome, where February 14th was a holiday to honor the Goddess Juno, queen of Roman Goddesses and Goddess of love and marriage. The following day was a feast day called the Feast of Lupercalia. St. Valentine was a priest in Rome in the days of Claudius II, around 250 AD. The unpopular Emperor was having a difficult time recruiting soldiers to join his army and believed that the reason was that the men did not want to leave their wives and families. In response, Claudius II canceled all engagements and marriages in Rome. St Valentine and St. Marius aided the Christians of the time by secretly marrying couples. St. Valentine was caught performing the banned marriages and brought before the Prefect of Rome. As punishment for his crime, he was sentenced to be beaten to death with clubs and beheaded. His execution occurred on the 14th day of February.