On February 10, the Orthodox Church honors St. Hieromartyr Charalampius and St. Martyr Valentina, the Church Calendar shows.
Today is the feast of beekeepers, since St. Charalampius also discovered the miraculous properties of honey. On this day, honey is consecrated and part of it is kept as a cure for smallpox and other diseases throughout the year. Honey is a symbol of abundance, theologians say.
St. Valentina was a pious maiden who lived in the vicinity of Caesarea Palestine. She became a victim of the persecution of Christians in 308. under Maximilian II Galerius (308-313 AD).
When the torturers tried to force her to offer a sacrifice in the pagan temple, she threw a stone on the altar and turned her back to the fire burning on it. For this, the pagans beheaded her.
According to the Orthodox calendar, on February 10, people with the names: Valentina, Valentin, Valya, Valio, Haralampi, Haralamp, Harry, Haralan, Lambi, Lambo, Lambrina, Lambrin celebrate their name day.