There's more to Saint Valentine than Valentine's Day, romance, and love. He's also the patron saint of beekeepers — charged with ensuring the sweetness of honey and the protection of beekeepers.

What God are bees a symbol of?

Pan, the Greek God commonly associated with the wild and sexuality, was also the God of Beekeeping. The most important oracular site of ancient Greece, Delphi, was said to have been constructed by bees.

Why is St Valentine patron of beekeepers?

St. Valentine is believed by many to aid those who call on his intercession to help ensure the sweetness of the season's honey and provide special protection to those who keep bees.

What is a honey bee pray?

The Lorsch Bee Blessing (German: Lorscher Bienensegen) is a bee-keeping prayer intended to bring home honey bees in good health to their hives. It is believed to have been written in the 9th century, and was discovered in a manuscript (on fol. 58r of the Pal. lat.

Is the patron saint of this honey of an occupation?

Today, the Catholic Church designates Saint Ambrose as the patron saint of beekeepers and candle makers. He is often displayed with the icon of a bee, a symbol of great wisdom and education. The Latin phrase for “honey” is “Ambrosia” or the food of the gods, thus the origin of St. Ambrose's name.

Saint Valentine - patron saint of Beekeepers

Is there a saint of bees?

The apostle St Bartholomew is sometimes said to be Patron Saint of both bees and beekeepers in England (although perhaps more accurately, he is the patron saint of mead makers).

Who is the patron saint of dogs?

August 16 is the annual feast day of St. Roch, the patron saint of dogs. Saint Roch (pronounced "rock") was a Frenchman born to nobility in 1295, so it may seem strange that he is recognized as the patron saint of dogs.

Is there a Goddess of bees?

One of the most famous legends of the gods in Greek history is of 'Melissa', the goddess of the bees. In the human world, priestesses were referred to as 'Melissae' in the temples of the goddesses. In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who was shown the use of honey by the bees.

What do bees symbolize in Bible?

"In Christian tradition , [the bee] is the emblem of Christ, of his forgiveness (through analogy with the sweetness of his honey), with his justice (through its sting), and Christian virtues (because of the exemplary way worker bees behave towards their queen" (Julien, 35).

What does honey symbolize spiritually?

Honey as blessing, abundance

In various spiritual writings and customs, the spiritual meaning of honey appears to be in God's provision of abundance, and the giving of something sweet and good to eat.

Who is the patron saint of animals?

St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and environment could be viewed as the original Earth Day advocate. Francis' devotion to God was expressed through his love for all of God's creation.

What is Greek for bee?

Melissa is a female given name. The name comes from the Greek word μέλισσα (mélissa), "bee", which in turn comes from μέλι (meli), "honey".

What do bees symbolize in mythology?

In ancient mythology across all cultures, the honey bee was believed to be the sacred insect that bridged the natural world to the underworld. A universal symbol of ethical virtues, such as diligence, sociability, purity, cleanliness, wisdom and creativity.

Why did Mayans worship bees?

The Bringers Of Life

One of the more important species in their belief system was bees. They were revered as symbols of fertility and even had their own deity: Ah-Muzen-Kab. He can be found on the walls of thetemplewith unfurled wings, ready for flight towards the land located around his altar.

What do bees symbolize Catholic?

Beyond the candle as a symbol for Christ, it also represented the most holy chastity of Mary the mother of Christ, "Like Mary, the wax producing bees possessed a mystical combination of fecundity and virginity.

Are bees a good omen?

Bees are a symbol of wealth, good luck and prosperity since Ancient times. Charms in the shape of a honey bee are said to be good luck for attracting wealth. The same goes for coins with a honey bee symbol. Myth says these charms and coins are lucky for success in life.

Who is the Roman goddess of bees?

Mellona or Mellonia was an ancient Roman goddess said by St. Augustine to promote the supply of honey (Latin mel, mellis) as Pomona did for apples and Bubona for cattle. Arnobius describes her as "a goddess important and powerful regarding bees, taking care of and protecting the sweetness of honey."

Who is the saint of cats?

St. Gertrude of Nivelles' patronage was never made official by the Vatican, but her association with whisking away mice and rats made her, by default, the saint that all cat lovers worshipped.

Who is the patron saint for alcoholics?

Saint Matthias the Apostle is a patron saint of alcoholics. He was also the man whom early Christians chose to replace one of Jesus Christ's original apostles who betrayed him -- Judas Iscariot -- after Judas' suicide.

Why is St. Ambrose patron saint of bees?

Bees have been associated with our patron saint, St. Ambrose, because of a legend that his father found his infant son's face covered with bees. This was taken as a sign of his future eloquence, or speaking with a "honeyed tongue."