Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St. Marius and his family assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was apprehended and sent by the emperor to the prefect of Rome, who on finding it impossible to make him renounce his faith commanded him to be beaten with clubs and afterwards to be beheaded which was executed on the 14^th of February about the year 270. Pope Julius I is said to have built a church near Ponte Mole to his memory which for a long time gave name to the gate, now called Porta Del Popolo, formerly Porta Valentini. The greatest part of his relics are now in the church of St. Praxedes.