Today, much of the world celebrates "Valentine's Day," with hearts, flowers, and chocolates; a day to tell the people you love that you love them. However, according to Holy Women, Holy Men, the Episcopal Church commemorates the Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs.

St. Valentine's Relic, Basilica of Santa Maria in Rome

 A saint in the Catholic church, Valentine most likely represents two martyrs named Valentine, one a priest & physician martyred under emperor Claudius II Gothicus, and one a bishop of Terni, Italy. It is possible that these two "Valentines" are two accounts of the same person, but it is unclear. There is also an account of a third. Here is an article about the Valentines. 

Today's tradition of exchanging love cards, chocolates, and flowers may be because of a marriage song that the poet John Donne, wrote for Princess Elizabeth and Frederick V, Elector Palatine in 1632. (Adapted from this 2010 Liturgy for Valentine's Day, Church of England)

	Cyril and Methodius

Holy Women, Holy Men says the following about Cyril and Methodius: "These brothers, Cyril and Methodius, were chiefly responsible for the conversion of the Slavic people of Eastern Europe in the ninth century. They were from Thessalonica, Greece. Each was educated at the great university at Constantinople, and each initially took up a career there; Cyril, the younger, as professor of philosophy, and Methodius, the elder, as a librarian. Cyril was the first to do missionary work. He worked among the Tartars of what is now the Ukraine. The brothers went together as missionaries to Moravia. Cyril invented an alphabet for the Slavic tongues of that area. Together they translated the liturgy and the scriptures into Slavonic, the language of the people." 

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 1. Here is a working list of materials that may be helpful for your spiritual practice this Lent:

• Arising from Diocesan Convention Resolution #5 - Our Holy Land passed last fall, Lenten materials will be available to assist ECCT members connect with the peoples, promise, and history of the Holy Land. Reflections, stories, and weekly Prayers of the People will be available. Stay tuned for details.

• Camp Washington's Lenten Retreat, March 31 - April 1; titled "Making Space for Silence: Exploring Contemplative Prayer," this overnight retreat is presented by Br. Robert L'Esperance from the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) in Cambridge, MA. 

• Forward Movement's "A Season of Prayer: 40 Days in the Desert;" a daily prayer and scriptural guide draws from the Book of Common Prayer and books of the Bible to present a theme focused on exile, hospitality, and migration this Lent. 

• Trinity Institute 2017: Water Justice conference on March 22-24 in New York City. Local sites currently include St. Paul's, Wallingford and St. John's, Vernon. Learn about water justice issues and initiatives throughout the world.

• Green Anglican's Carbon Fast for Lent, the challenge is to reduce the actions which damage God's Creation, by limiting the use of petrol, electricity, plastic, paper, water, and toxins. 

• Episcopal Relief & Development's Lent Meditations; offered annually, this multi-authored devotional focuses on strengthening communities and creating economic opportunities. It is available in both English and Spanish. 

• Lent Madness, the "Saintly Smackdown of 2017;" this competition for the Golden Halo will provide humor and a breath of fresh air while you learn more about the saints the church commemorates. Fill out your brackets and vote every week day for the winner. 

The first gathering of the new Interfaith Ministry Network will be this Saturday, February 18 at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, West Haven. This new Ministry Network will focus on learning about different faith traditions, engaging in interfaith dialogue, developing partnerships, and engaging in a variety of interfaith activities.