From Your Valentine
Valentine’s Day is often celebrated as a time for love and romance, but few people realise its origins are tied to detention and martyrdom. The holiday is named after St. Valentine, an Italian doctor who became a Christian priest. His actions and eventual martyrdom inspired the creation of Valentine’s Day in the church calendar.
Valentine lived during Emperor Claudius II's rule. He secretly performed weddings for couples so the men could avoid military service, as married men were exempt. Valentine was arrested when the emperor found out.
While in detention, Valentine refused to renounce his Christian faith. Before his execution, he wrote a heartfelt note to a young girl named Julia, the jailer’s daughter, encouraging her to stay close to Jesus and thanking her for her friendship. He signed the note, “From your Valentine.”
Today, even though Valentine’s Day has become highly commercialised with cards, flowers, and gifts, its message still holds deep meaning for many young people facing separation and hardship. For them, it’s the pain of being apart from loved ones.
David is a young refugee from Iran who arrived in Australia in 2023 through Philoi’s sponsorship. He shares with us how much he deeply misses his fiancée, Grace, after they were separated when he was resettled in Australia. Before their separation, David and Grace had built a strong bond in their local church in Turkey after their families fled from Iran. They supported each other through the challenges they both faced as refugees. Their shared faith and dreams of building a life together kept them going, even in the most challenging times.
Grace remains a refugee in Turkey, awaiting sponsorship approval to Australia. The separation has been incredibly hard on both of them. He shares with us:
“I am in constant contact with her due to our mutual feelings and love. Our love has grown stronger during this time apart, and we miss each other deeply.”
Her application for a humanitarian visa, which would allow them to be reunited, has been stuck in processing for years, with no clear end in sight.
Life as a refugee in Turkey is filled with restrictions for Grace. She cannot leave the city she lives in, and she is unable to obtain a passport, so she has no way to apply for resettlement in another country. Travel outside of the municipal limits is forbidden, and opportunities for a better future feel out of reach. On the other hand, David, a newly resettled refugee in Australia, also faces travel restrictions, making it impossible for him to visit Grace in Turkey.
Their love is tested by distance, uncertainty, and the slow pace of immigration systems. Both David and Grace live in constant fear. As Iranian Christian converts, her family is at risk of being sent to detention camps at any time. Their lives feel like they are in detention already, with strict limits on where they can go.
“I hope to see her soon and have our life together.”
We invite you to pause and think about those separated from their loved ones, especially those in detention or restricted camps. As we celebrate love, let us remember the deeper message of St. Valentine’s note to Julia—a message of faith, hope, and enduring friendship.
Just as St. Valentine encouraged Julia to stay close to Jesus, we pray that those who are separated and detained will find strength in their faith. May they feel the support and friendship of churches and communities that stand with them during these challenging times.