Saint Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was one of the Twelve Apostles known for his guileless nature and for spreading the Gospel, traditionally in Armenia where he was martyred by flaying.
Saint Bartholomew, traditionally identified as Nathanael from the Gospel of John, was one of the original Twelve Apostles called by Jesus, noted for his sincere and honest character as attested by Christ Himself who called him "an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile." Following Pentecost, he is believed to have embarked on extensive missionary journeys, with traditions placing his evangelization efforts in regions such as India, Mesopotamia, Persia, and most notably, Armenia, where he is credited with establishing early Christian communities. His significant role in the early Church includes bearing witness to Christ's resurrection and carrying the message of salvation to distant lands, ultimately suffering martyrdom by being flayed alive, making him a powerful example of steadfast faith and a patron saint for various professions, including tanners.
Saint Bartholomew, known also as Nathanael, stands as a foundational pillar in the edifice of the early Church, one of the original Twelve Apostles handpicked by Jesus Christ Himself. His introduction into the sacred narrative is uniquely poignant, found in the Gospel of John, where Philip invites him to meet the Nazarene. Initially, Nathanael’s skepticism is evident in his famous query, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” This honest doubt, however, swiftly transforms into profound faith upon his encounter with Jesus. Christ’s immediate perception of his character, declaring, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!” (John 1:47), speaks volumes about Bartholomew’s inherent sincerity and uprightness. This divine insight, coupled with Jesus’s miraculous knowledge of Nathanael having been under a fig tree before Philip called him, utterly convinced him, leading to his profound confession: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel” (John 1:49). This pivotal moment underscores his transformation from a man of honest skepticism to a devoted disciple, ready to follow the Messiah.
Following his calling, Bartholomew remained a steadfast companion to Jesus throughout His public ministry, witnessing countless miracles, hearing profound teachings, and being present during the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of the Lord. Although the Synoptic Gospels list him simply as Bartholomew, the identification with Nathanael from John’s Gospel is a strong and widely accepted tradition within the Church, supported by the fact that Bartholomew (Bar-Tolmai) is a patronymic surname, meaning “son of Tolmai,” and Nathanael was his given name. He was among the Apostles who witnessed the Ascension of Christ into heaven and was present with the other disciples in the Upper Room during the transformative outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This momentous event, which empowered the Apostles with divine courage and the gift of tongues, marked the true commencement of their global mission to spread the Good News, with Bartholomew ready to carry the torch to distant lands.
After Pentecost, tradition holds that Saint Bartholomew embarked on extensive and perilous missionary journeys, reaching far beyond the conventional boundaries of the Roman Empire. Early Church historians and traditions, such as those recorded by Eusebius of Caesarea and Rufinus, speak of his evangelistic efforts in various regions. One prominent tradition places him in India, where he is said to have preached the Gospel, specifically in the northwest region or along the Konkan coast. This claim is bolstered by the account of Pantaenus, a second-century Christian theologian, who reported finding a copy of the Gospel of Matthew written in Hebrew among the Christians in India, which was believed to have been left there by Bartholomew. His mission there reportedly involved converting many, including members of the royal family, before he moved on to other territories.
Beyond India, other ancient accounts suggest his apostolic labors extended to Mesopotamia, Persia, Lycaonia, and Phrygia. However, it is his mission to Armenia that is perhaps the most widely recognized and venerated. Alongside Saint Thaddeus (also known as Addai), Bartholomew is credited with being one of the founding evangelists of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He preached extensively throughout the region, converting numerous people, including members of the Armenian nobility and even the sister of the king, Polymius. His success in establishing early Christian communities and challenging the pagan idolatry prevalent in Armenia deeply angered the local priests and the king, leading to intense persecution.
His unwavering commitment to Christ ultimately led to his martyrdom. The most enduring and vivid account of Saint Bartholomew’s death is that he was flayed alive, and then either crucified or beheaded, at Albanopolis (modern-day Baku, Azerbaijan, or Derbent, Russia) in Armenia. This horrific method of execution, a testament to the brutal persecution faced by early Christians, symbolizes his profound and total surrender to Christ. The image of him holding his own skin in artistic depictions is a powerful, albeit gruesome, representation of his martyrdom. His steadfastness in the face of such torment served as an inspiring example for future generations of martyrs and believers, demonstrating the ultimate sacrifice one could make for the faith.
The legacy of Saint Bartholomew endures strongly within the Catholic Church and beyond. His relics are highly venerated, with a significant portion believed to be interred in the Basilica of St. Bartholomew on the Tiber Island in Rome, having been transferred from Benevento, Italy, where they were brought from Armenia. He is invoked as the patron saint of numerous professions and conditions, often associated with his martyrdom: tanners, because of his flaying; butchers, due to the nature of his death; neurologists, as his name was once associated with neurological disorders in medieval times; and bookbinders, due to a misinterpretation of an early text. Saint Bartholomew remains a powerful figure of sincerity, missionary zeal, and unwavering fidelity, reminding all believers of the call to radical discipleship and the ultimate triumph of faith over persecution, making him a revered and vital figure in the Christian tradition.
In the distant lands of India, where the sun beat down upon ancient temples and the air was thick with the scent of spices and incense, Saint Bartholomew arrived, a lone bearer of the Gospel. The people of that region were deeply steeped in the worship of idols, particularly one named Astaroth, whom they believed held sway over their lives, bringing both blessings and afflictions. This demon, residing within a grotesque statue, terrorized the populace, especially causing great suffering and illness to the king's daughter and many others, who were driven to madness or plagued by various ailments.
The people, desperate for relief, would consult the priests of Astaroth, seeking answers and cures. But the demon, through its priests, would only offer cryptic pronouncements and false remedies, further binding the people in fear and superstition. Yet, amidst their despair, a whisper began to circulate about a stranger, a holy man who spoke of a different God, a God of truth and healing.
Bartholomew, observing the plight of the people, knew that the time was ripe to reveal the true power of Christ. He approached the temple of Astaroth, his heart filled with divine courage and compassion. He did not immediately denounce the idol but waited for an opportune moment to expose its deceit. When the king, Polymius, brought his ailing daughter to the idol, seeking a cure, Bartholomew stepped forward.
With a voice resonating with authority, Bartholomew challenged the demonic entity. He declared that Astaroth was no god but a tormenting demon, powerless before the true God. He commanded the demon, in the name of Jesus Christ, to reveal itself and depart from the idol. At his word, a terrible shriek echoed through the temple, and the idol trembled, cracking and crumbling before the astonished eyes of the king and his court. The demon, forced to manifest, confessed its evil deeds and its powerlessness against the Apostle of Christ, before fleeing in terror.
Immediately, the king's daughter and all those afflicted by the demon were miraculously healed, their minds cleared and their bodies restored. Overwhelmed by this undeniable display of divine power and the palpable presence of the true God, King Polymius and a vast multitude of his subjects renounced their false gods. They embraced the faith preached by Bartholomew, receiving baptism and dedicating themselves to Christ. This dramatic encounter not only showcased Bartholomew’s unwavering faith and the power granted to him by the Holy Spirit but also laid the foundation for a burgeoning Christian community in a land once shrouded in spiritual darkness.
13th Century
Bartholomew, which is interpreted, the son of him that suspendeth the waters. Or it is said of Bartho, that is flowing, and tholo, that is a heap, and moys, that is waters. So Bartholomew is as much to say as, flowing in the heap of waters, because he was abundant in words, and in the heap of virtues, and he drew men to the waters of baptism. He was of the lineage of king's blood, and had great plenty of possessions. And after the ascension of our Lord he went into India, and bare with him the gospel of Matthew after the Hebrew letter, which he left in India, and it was found in the time of Charlemagne. And when he went into India, he went into a temple where there was an idol named Astaroth, and the people worshipped it. This devil Astaroth tormented them that were mad and lunatics, and also those that were possessed with devils. And when they brought any sick man to the idol, the devil answered nothing unto them. And then they ran to another idol, which was named Berith, and asked him how they might be delivered from this torment. And the devil Berith answered to them, saying: Your god Astaroth is bound in chains of fire, and his bonds be of lead, by a man that is come into this province, that hath overthrown all our power, and hath made us subject unto him, and he hath made us to obey him. And he goeth through all this country, and healeth all the sick folk that be vexed with divers torments, and he delivereth them that be possessed with devils, and he preacheth the Son of God, and hath turned many men from the worshipping of idols unto God. And he is named Bartholomew, and if ye will be delivered from this torment, go and find him, and ask of him your health. And the devil Berith said also: If ye will know whether I say sooth or not, go to the temple of Astaroth, and ask him if he be bound, and he shall answer to you.
Then went the priests of the temple to the idol of Astaroth, and asked him if he were bound. And the devil answered: I am bound by the chains of fire, and my bonds be of lead, and I am constrained by the power of him that is come into this province, which is named Bartholomew, and he hath made me subject unto him, and he hath made me to obey him. And I may not speak till he give me leave, and if he give me leave, I shall speak. Then the priests went to Bartholomew, and said to him: We pray thee that thou wilt give leave to our god to speak, that we may be delivered from this torment. And Bartholomew said to them: Go to your god, and ask him if he will speak to you, and I shall give him leave. Then went the priests to the temple, and asked the idol if he would speak to them. And the devil answered: I may not speak till Bartholomew give me leave. Then the priests went again to Bartholomew, and said to him: We pray thee that thou wilt give leave to our god to speak, that we may be delivered from this torment. And Bartholomew said to them: Go to your god, and ask him if he will speak to you, and I shall give him leave. Then went the priests to the temple, and asked the idol if he would speak to them. And the devil answered: I may not speak till Bartholomew give me leave. Then Bartholomew gave him leave, and the devil answered: I am bound by the chains of fire, and my bonds be of lead, and I am constrained by the power of him that is come into this province, which is named Bartholomew, and he hath made me subject unto him, and he hath made me to obey him. And I may not speak till he give me leave, and if he give me leave, I shall speak.
Then Bartholomew went to the temple, and said to the devil: I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, that thou come out of this idol, and appear visibly to all the people, and confess that thou art a devil, and that thou hast deceived the people. And forthwith the devil came out of the idol, and appeared visibly to all the people in the form of a black man, and confessed that he was a devil, and that he had deceived the people. And all the people were astonished, and glorified God. And Bartholomew said to the devil: I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, that thou go into the desert, and never return again into this province. And forthwith the devil went into the desert, and never returned again into that province. And Bartholomew said to the people: Lo, your god is gone, and he hath confessed that he is a devil, and that he hath deceived you. And all the people glorified God, and said: Blessed be the name of the Lord, which hath sent his servant Bartholomew to deliver us from the power of the devil.
And after this, Bartholomew healed all the sick folk that were vexed with divers torments, and he delivered them that were possessed with devils, and he preached the Son of God, and turned many men from the worshipping of idols unto God. And the king of that province, named Polymius, had a daughter that was vexed with a devil, and she was brought to Bartholomew, and he healed her. And the king and his wife and all his household believed in God, and were baptized. And the king made a great feast, and invited Bartholomew and all the Christians. And the king made a decree that all the idols should be destroyed, and that all the people should worship God. And the king made Bartholomew his chief counsellor, and gave him great riches. And Bartholomew built churches, and ordained priests and deacons, and he established the Christian faith in that province.
But the priests of the idols, seeing that their temples were destroyed and their revenues diminished, were filled with envy and rage. They went to Astyages, the brother of King Polymius, who was a great idolater, and complained to him, saying: This Bartholomew hath destroyed our gods, and hath turned the king and all the people from our religion. And Astyages was greatly moved, and sent forth his soldiers to seize Bartholomew. And when they found him, they brought him before Astyages. And Astyages said to him: Why hast thou destroyed our gods, and turned the king and all the people from our religion? And Bartholomew answered: I have not destroyed your gods, but I have shown them to be devils, and I have turned the people from the worshipping of devils unto the worshipping of the true God. And Astyages said: If thou be a god, show us a sign. And Bartholomew said: I will show you a sign, but it shall be a sign of destruction to you, if you do not believe. And Astyages said: Show us the sign, and we will believe. And Bartholomew said: I will cause a great earthquake, and it shall overthrow all your idols. And forthwith there was a great earthquake, and it overthrew all the idols. And Astyages and all his people were greatly astonished, and glorified God.
But the devil, seeing that he was vanquished, entered into the heart of Astyages, and made him hardened in his iniquity. And Astyages commanded that Bartholomew should be flayed alive. And they took him, and flayed him alive. And as they flayed him, he ceased not to preach the Son of God. And when they had flayed him, they beheaded him. And thus, Saint Bartholomew, the glorious Apostle, finished his course, and received the crown of martyrdom. His body was taken by the faithful and buried with great honor. And many miracles were wrought at his tomb, confirming the truth of his preaching and the power of God manifested through His faithful servant.
In various parts of Europe, the feast day of Saint Bartholomew is traditionally associated with a change in weather patterns, often marking the end of summer and the onset of autumn, sometimes referred to with sayings about rain or cooler temperatures.
The feast day's position in the calendar (August 24th) often coincides with meteorological shifts marking the transition from summer to autumn.
Due to his traditional martyrdom by flaying, Saint Bartholomew is the patron saint of tanners, butchers, and leather workers. In some communities, there might be a practice of blessing tools associated with these trades on his feast day.
Saint Bartholomew's patronage of these professions, stemming from his martyrdom by flaying.
In towns and cities where Saint Bartholomew is the principal patron, such as Benevento, Italy (where his relics are venerated), special religious processions, local festivals, and fairs are held to honor him.
His veneration as a patron saint and the presence of his relics in certain locations.
Within the Armenian Apostolic Church, Saint Bartholomew is highly venerated as one of the two founding apostles (along with Saint Thaddeus), and his feast day is observed with significant liturgical services and special devotions.
His historical role as one of the two apostles credited with bringing Christianity to Armenia.
A traditional German cake, often a plum cake (Zwetschgenkuchen), prepared to mark the feast day of Saint Bartholomew.
The feast day of Saint Bartholomew on August 24th coincides with the plum harvest season in parts of Germany, making plum cake a fitting traditional dish for the occasion.