In his collection, Fedele Santini reports numerous legends concerning Saint Valentine Patron of Lovers. One of these, born in the Anglo-Saxon countries, tells that Saint Valentine had the habit of offering the boys and girls who passed in front of his cloister a flower from his garden.

The union between two young people blessed by Saint Valentine proved so serene and happy that all lovers wished to obtain the blessing of the Bishop of Interamna, who thus became the spiritual adviser of young couples who went to speak with him to receive advice and comfort about love troubles.

The best-known legend is without doubt the story of Sabino and Serapia, revived in the 1900s following the discovery at Pentima, near Terni, of a sarcophagus containing the skeletons of two young people.

Young Serapia lived in a square in Terni, today’s Piazza Clai. Passing often through that area, a young Roman centurion named Sabino watched her several times, fell in love with her, and asked for her hand. Her relatives, however, were against the union, since Sabino was a pagan while they were of the Christian faith.

So Serapia suggested that he go to the Bishop, be properly instructed, and be baptized. Which Sabino, for love of her, did willingly. But suddenly a very great problem arose: it was discovered that Serapia suffered from a very severe form of consumption, which threw her parents and the young Roman legionary into despair.

The holy Bishop was called to the dying girl’s bedside and Sabino begged him to prevent the death of his beloved: his life without her would be like a long, unbearable martyrdom. Valentine raised his hands and turned to the Lord; a blissful sleep united those two hearts with the same beat for eternity, as they held each other close and flew to heaven.