www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Sts Cyril and Methodius

Perhaps I'm going to be berated as a kill joy for this or maybe a bit puritanical. But well,there are worse things...

My post centres on February 14th, which in the Latin Church is the feastday of Sts Cyril and Methodius. Previously it was, as many people wont have forgotten, St Valentine's feastday. However, I for one am quite displeased with how the name of a martyr is used for mere market purposes at the expense of his memorial--particularly since he's no longer on the universal calender.

My bright idea then is, especially to all you Europeans out there, to next year do something special for the feast of Sts Cyril and Methodius. I mean those two genius' were prolific in their work of evangelising the slav's even created an alphabet. Moreover, they are patrons of Europe and saints for all both East and West. I think if we could get together we could re-baptise February 14th into the Catholic faith and make it a day of Oecuemnical unity in the name of the Lord, as St Valentine himself would've wanted.

On the Byzantine Calendar, February 14 marks the feast of St Cyril. May 11 is observed as the feast of Ss Cyril and Methodius, Teachers and Apostles to the Slavs .

Okie dokie, maybe not the best day then, lol!

Myles, May 11 is a major feastday at all Slavic churches dedicated to the holy brothers, and even in Slavic parishes not dedidcated to them is celebrated with a festival.

Cool, they were great those two. I just wanted a way to try and Christianise the paganism of February 14th. I just dont like the way a martyr's name is used for market purposes in a way that completely ignores the blood he shed for the faith.

I for one have started to commemorate St Valentine along with Sts Cyril and Methodius.
Just because he is no longer on the universal calendar does not mean we cannot celebrate his feast.
We also recognize and pray for married people the week end before. There are many ways we can combat the neo pagan emphasis.

Stephanos I

PS
Some Catholic trivia. Does anyone know where the relics of the Martyr St Valentine are?
A prize for those who are correct.

Yes

There are relics of St Valentine in the care of the Fransiscans in the Parish of Blessed John Duns Scotus in Glasgow .

Anhelyna

Okay Father...Anhelyna gets the prize!

( What IS the prize, anyway?)

Alice

I think you should insist on good chocolate.

Myles,

I applaud your efforts to Christianise February 14, however, strictly speaking the problem is not paganism, but rather commercialism.

The relics of St. Valentine are in the chapel of St. Zeno in the church of Sta. Prasedea, in Rome. It is the same church where the Pillar of Flagelation is kept. The church is full of mosaics!!

The relics of Saint Valentine, (perhaps another one?) were given to the Carmelite Order by the Pope of Rome from their original burial place in the Roman catacombs, and are now venerated in the Carmelite Church in Dublin (Whitefriars Street Church).

Hieromonk Elias won the prize and it is (drum roll) a week of prayers for him. You perhaps were thinking of something terestial? LOL.
But he is right the Ossuary is keep in the Carmelite Church in White Friar St Dublin in a beautiful gold sarcophogus behind a grillunderneath a beautiful statue of St Valentine.
Stephanos I

Hmmphm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/279285.stm

I have a very strong feeling that we will never get to the bare bones of the truth here.

We are certainly not giving up our claim easily

Anhelyna

It is well worth a pilgrimage to the Carmelite Church in White Friar St, Dublin. I have made it often myself.
Stephanos I