VALERIAN, VALERIANS. Valerian is the noble youth married to Cecilia, who converts him and his brother Tiburce to Christianity. They all suffer martyrdom for the faith (Legenda aurea CLXIX).

Valerian, married to Cecilia, respects her requests on their wedding night. She tells him that to see the angel who protects her, he must be converted and seek out Pope Urban in a cave near the Via Appia, SNT 141-217. Valerian accompanies his brother Tiburce to Urban, SNT 253-280. Pope Urban baptizes them both, SNT 344-357. On Almachius's orders, Valerian and Tiburce are beheaded, SNT 379-406.

Jacobus de Voragine does not give an etymology of Valerian. Like the name Tiburce, Valerian, the name of a Roman clan, suggests that the bearer was of noble birth. Valerian occurs six times initially, SNT 148, 162, 183, 204, 218, 253; eight times in medial positions, SNT 203, 224, 232, 235, 262, 266, 350, 408; and three times in final rhyming position, SNT 129, 213, 306. Valerians, the ME genitive case, appears in medial position, SNT 277.