Where are The Remains Of Saint Valentine...?


Saint Valentine’s Day is coming. But today we would like to talk not about the celebration of the “St. Valentine’s Day” and not about the discussions about what in reality Valentine sacrificed for. We would like to talk about the place where everybody can lower their heads before hallows of Saint Valentine.

Most of you will be probably very surprised to know that this place is situated neither in Italy nor in Greece, but here, in Dublin, however strange it could sound


the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin

Now there come some details about this deposition. In 1835, an Irish preacher, Dr. John Spratt, while visiting Rome was invited to a city of Gesu to give his preaches there. People liked his words so much that he received lots of testimonials even from the Elite of Rome.

The Pope, Gregory XVI, found his own way to thank Father John Spratt by suggesting to rebury Saint Valentine’s relic in Dublin. The matter was that by the beginning of the ХIX century, having changed several places of deposition, Saint Valentine’s relics were waiting for a new one.

It’s quite understandable. During one and a half thousand years even a stone can be destroyed. At that time, more than one and a half thousand years had gone since the moment of decapitation of Saint Valentine (270 ad).


St. Valentine in the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church Dublin

And now on, after all formalities had been settled, the Archbishop of Dublin, Myrray, in the solemn and honourable atmosphere received Saint Valentine’s relic. This event took place on the 12th of November, 1836 in Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church.

After Father’s Spratt death, the Saint Valentine’s story was slightly forgotten, but after reconstruction of this church in the middle of the ХХ century, a special wing with altar and statue of Saint Valentine was given for Saint Valentine relics which were placed under glass in a small sarcophagus.


The Remains Of St. Valentine's in the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church Dublin

In order to dispel doubts about identity of the relic, the official Vatican issued a special letter where they note that the relics belong to the Holy Martyr Valentine.

It’s quite easy to find this church where Saint Valentine relics rest. You will get the St. Stephan’s Green Park first, and from the side of the Sir Arthur Guinness monument, you will see a sign pointing to the direction of the church where Saint Valentine is laid to rest.