You couldn't make it up dept no.26: the first recorded 1000-year-old bishop
1 - from the national Malay news agency Bernama
KUALA TERENGGANU, Feb. 13 -- Muslims in the country, especially lovers, have been advised not to celebrate Valentine's Day tomorrow.
State Islam Hadhari Development Committee Deputy Chairman, Muhammad Ramli Nuh said celebrating the Day could be regarded as recognising the enemies of Islam because Valentine or Valentinus took part in planning and attacking Cordoba, once a well-known centre of Islam in Spain, causing its downfall....
Muhammad Ramli said although not many couples celebrate Valentine's Day in the state, the state government wished to remind that the celebration should not be held including in hotels.
2 - St.Valentinus of Interamna (modern Terni, Italy) was, according to his legend, executed by the Emperor Claudius II for insisting in marrying young soldiers against a direct Imperial order. That is why this martyr, commonly confused with the priest St.Valentinus of Rome, is regarded as the patron saint of engaged couples.
3 - Claudius II ruled from 268 to 270AD. Cordoba fell to the Christian king Ferdinand III of Castile in 1236. I have not been able to find any Valentine around him, and I do not believe that the name was in use in Castile at the time. Draw your own conclusions.
KUALA TERENGGANU, Feb. 13 -- Muslims in the country, especially lovers, have been advised not to celebrate Valentine's Day tomorrow.
State Islam Hadhari Development Committee Deputy Chairman, Muhammad Ramli Nuh said celebrating the Day could be regarded as recognising the enemies of Islam because Valentine or Valentinus took part in planning and attacking Cordoba, once a well-known centre of Islam in Spain, causing its downfall....
Muhammad Ramli said although not many couples celebrate Valentine's Day in the state, the state government wished to remind that the celebration should not be held including in hotels.
2 - St.Valentinus of Interamna (modern Terni, Italy) was, according to his legend, executed by the Emperor Claudius II for insisting in marrying young soldiers against a direct Imperial order. That is why this martyr, commonly confused with the priest St.Valentinus of Rome, is regarded as the patron saint of engaged couples.
3 - Claudius II ruled from 268 to 270AD. Cordoba fell to the Christian king Ferdinand III of Castile in 1236. I have not been able to find any Valentine around him, and I do not believe that the name was in use in Castile at the time. Draw your own conclusions.