Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays most people take for granted but know very little about. And that is because its origins are as mysterious as love itself.

Originally known as the Feast of Valentinus (Latin for ‘worthy’), this holiday was established by Pope Galasius in the fifth century. The problem is that nobody really knows which Valentinus it was dedicated to! Traditionally, the leading candidate is an obscure priest martyred by the Roman Emperor Claudius in the Third Century.

But wouldn’t a far better template for Saint Valentine be an individual who actually championed the exploration of love in an era when Christianity stressed either celibacy or sex for procreation only?

And that would be the Gnostic Heretic, Valentinus of Alexandria.

Valentinus was a religious leader in Rome during the Second Century, respected by both Gnostics and Christians during his lifetime. He is said to have conceived the notion of the Trinity, was famous for his poetic philosophy, and almost became Pope (lost by a small margin).

And unlike the other contenders for Saint Valentine, there is actual evidence that Valentinus promoted a notion of romance that is similar to the modern version.

The Encyclopedia of Religion states that Valentinus “permitted intercourse only between men and women who were able to experience it as a mystery and sacrament.” It also explains that Valentinus was “the only early Christian on record who spoke lovingly about sexual intercourse and womanhood…he must have been a great lover.”

Valentinus and his followers practiced the Bridal Chamber, a secret ritual of spiritual purification and Christ-consciousness. Yet some scholars including April De Conick have proposed that sacred sex might have been part of this ceremony. In fact, in The Gnostic New Age, DeConick plainly says, “Valentinus was a lover.”

She further states, “Our spirits are born out of Sophia’s love for God, mismanaged as it is. Also born from this love are a host of guardian angels, the twin counterparts of our spirits.” According to DeConick, Valentinus was unique in early Christian days because he championed conjugal relationships and even eroticism, while orthodoxy supported celibacy and chaste marriages.