Bartholomew the Apostle

Also known as

Nathanael bar Tolomai

Memorial

24 August (Roman); 11 June (Orthodox)

Profile

One of the Twelves Apostles. Probably a close friend of Saint Philip; his name is always mentioned in the Gospels in connection with him, and it was Philip brought Bartholomew to Jesus. May have written a gospel, now lost; it is mentioned in other writings of the time. May have preached in Asia Minor, Ethiopia, India and Armenia; some one did, leaving early writings behind, and local tradition says it was him. Martyr.

Died

flayed alive at Albanopolis, Armenia; relics at Saint Bartholomew-on-the-Tiber Church, Rome, and in the cathedral in Canterbury, England

Name Meaning

gift of God (Nathanael)

Patronage

Armenia; bookbinders; butchers; cobblers; Forentine cheese merchants; Forentine salt merchants; Gambatesa, Italy; Gharghur, Malta; leather workers; nervous diseases; neurological diseases; plasterers; shoemakers; tanners; trappers; twitching; whiteners

Prayers

Prayer to... O Glorious Saint Bartholomew, Jesus called you a person without guile and you saw in this word a sign that he was the Son of God and King of Israel. Obtain for us the grace to be ever guileless and innocent as doves. At the same time, help us to have your gift of faith to see the Divine hand in the events of daily life. May we discern the signs of the times that lead to Jesus on earth and will eventually unite us to him forever in heaven. Amen.

Representation

tanner`s knife; cross; elderly man holding a tanner`s knife and a human skin; skinless man holding his own skin

Images

Gallery of images of Saint Bartholomew

Additional Information

Ecole Glossary, by Karen Rae Keck
Google Directory
Christian Biographies, by James Kiefer
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
Catholic Encyclopedia, by John F Fenlon

Print References

Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Martyrdom of Bartholomew
New Catholic Dictionary
Goffine`s Devout Instructions 

Saint Bartholomew

Apostle, listed among the twelve Apostles (Matthew 10; Mark 3; Luke 6). Mention of him occurs infrequently in the Gospels, probably because Bartholomew was his patronymic rather than his proper name, and meant "son of Talmai or Tholmai"; some commentators identify him with Nathanael (John 1), although this theory is nowhere conclusively proved. Bartholomew was introduced to Christ by his friend, Saint Philip; his missionary labors brought him to India, Mesopotamia, Parthia, and Lycaonia. He is said to have died in Albanopolis, Armenia, but the stories of his death differ; according to one he was beheaded; others state that he was flayed alive and crucified. For this reason he is usually represented in art as flayed and holding his skin in his own hand. Emblems: knife, cross. Feast, Roman Calendar, 24 August.

New Catholic Dictionary