On what July date does the Eastern Orthodox Church honor the Roman presbyter Saint Valentine?

The story behind the answer

The Eastern Orthodox Church honors the Roman presbyter Saint Valentine on July 6.

This observance refers specifically to the Roman Valentine, traditionally described as a presbyter, or priest, who was martyred in the third century. His commemoration is separate from the Western February 14 observance associated with Saint Valentine’s Day.

The Orthodox calendar also distinguishes another figure: Hieromartyr Valentine, Bishop of Interamna, is commemorated on July 30. This two-date distinction reflects the longstanding problem of identifying whether traditions about multiple Valentines were later combined.

The dates can be confusing because February 14, July 6, and July 30 all appear in Christian calendars connected with Valentine traditions. July 6 belongs to the Roman presbyter; July 30 belongs to the bishop of Interamna. The question’s reference to the Roman presbyter therefore points clearly to July 6.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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