Life
The Holy Apostle Bartholomew — in the Gospels Nathanael, son of Tolomai — came from Galilean Cana, the very place where Christ performed His first miracle, turning water into wine. He was a man without guile, in whom Christ, upon catching sight of him at their first encounter, said: “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit.” At Nathanael’s astonished question “Whence knowest thou me?” the Lord answered: “Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee” — and by this supernatural knowledge Nathanael immediately recognized the Teacher: “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.”
Bartholomew was among the apostles who were present at all the key moments of Christ’s earthly ministry. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, by lot he received Arabia, Ethiopia, Asia Minor, and India as the fields of his apostolic work. According to tradition he preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, Armenia, and India, carrying with him a copy of the Gospel of Matthew in the Hebrew tongue.
In his hazardous mission in the East, Bartholomew encountered pagan polytheism and the resistance of idol-worshippers. Especially fruitful was his mission in Armenia (Greater Armenia), where he converted multitudes of people and the king Polemon himself, who received baptism. The success of this mission aroused the fury of the pagan priests and of the king’s brother Astyages, who ordered Bartholomew’s arrest.
The martyrdom of the Apostle Bartholomew is one of the most terrible in the apostolic age. According to tradition he was flayed alive — and continued to preach even so — and then crucified and beheaded. This martyrdom took place in the Armenian city of Albanopolis. The Church commemorates him on June 11, when he is also celebrated together with the Apostle Barnabas, and a special feast is held on August 25, in memory of the translation of his relics.
The relics of Saint Bartholomew were scattered throughout the Christian world over the centuries. Part of the relics is on the island of Lipari (Sicily), from where they were transferred to Rome in the Church of Saints Paul and Bartholomew, while another part is preserved in Frankfurt and Benevento. The Church attributes to him an equal share in the apostolic age and the honors of martyrdom, for he “laid down his soul for his friends.”
June 11 is the joint feast of the Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas — the day on which the Church with all its heart bears witness to the apostolic heritage it preserves through all the ages.
Tropar (Tone 3)
O holy Apostle Bartholomew, intercede with the merciful God to grant remission of sins to our souls.
Kontakion (Tone 4)
As a shining sun thou didst illumine the world, O Apostle Bartholomew, enlightening it with the grace of Christ. Having dispersed the darkness of ignorance, thou didst lead the nations to the love of Christ. Pray unceasingly for us, thy faithful venerators.