Feb 14 Who was St Valentine?

Today we try to get to the bottom of the disputed identity of St Valentine. Hi feast day was established by Pope Gelasius in 496.... but what can we find out about him historically. The pope declared that he is among the group “... whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God." It seems that he was a Roman martyr, but can we find out any more about him? We look at the different waves of persecution against the early Church, the martyrologies that were developed and then consolidated recording their names. We look at three possible Saint Valentines linked to Feb 14th. Why was the name Valentine popular in Roman times and what did it mean? How did this feast day become associated with romantic love ? How is celebrated around the world ?