Bartholomew the Apostle

Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. His name, Bartholomew, comes from the Greek word "Bartholomaios." This translates to "son of Tolmai" or "son of the furrows."

Most modern scholars believe that Bartholomew is the same person as Nathanael. Nathanael is a figure who appears in the Gospel of John. Bartholomew is listed among the Twelve Apostles in the three Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. He is also mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. These ancient texts provide the primary basis for understanding his identity and role in early Christian history.

Tradition offers several accounts of where Bartholomew traveled to spread his faith. The early 4th-century writer Eusebius of Caesarea claimed Bartholomew went on a missionary tour to India. Eusebius stated that he left a copy of the Gospel of Matthew there. Saint Jerome, writing in the late 4th century, also supported this Indian mission. Some researchers suggest his work took place in the Bombay region on the Konkan coast. They point to the ancient city of Kalyan as a possible location for his activities. However, some scholars disagree with these traditions. They argue that the "India" mentioned in ancient texts might actually refer to Ethiopia or Arabia Felix.

Bartholomew played a massive role in the history of Armenia. He is said to have traveled there with the apostle Jude, also known as Thaddeus. Together, they are credited with bringing Christianity to the region during the 1st century. Because of their work, the Armenian kingdom became the first state in history to officially embrace Christianity in 301. This makes Bartholomew and Jude the patron saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church. In some religious traditions, he is even recognized as the second Catholicos-Patriarch of that church.

Christian tradition provides three distinct accounts regarding the death of Bartholomew. One tradition says he was kidnapped, beaten, and thrown into the sea to drown. Another version focuses on his time in Armenia. In this account, he was executed in Albanopolis after converting King Polymius to Christianity. This conversion angered the king's brother, Prince Astyages, who ordered the execution. Some historians find this specific story difficult to prove. They note that there are no records of an Armenian king named Polymius in the Arsacid dynasty. Other accounts name the king as either Agrippa or Sanatruk.

A third, more detailed account comes from the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich. She described Bartholomew traveling through India and even passing through Japan. In her account, he traveled to Abyssinia, which is modern-day Ethiopia. There, he reportedly converted a king and performed miracles, such as raising a man from the dead. Emmerich's writings describe his martyrdom as flaying. Flaying is a process where the skin is removed from a body.

This specific detail has become a very common theme in religious art.

Because of the nature of his death, Bartholomew is often depicted in a unique way. Artists frequently show him holding his own skin or a knife.

One famous example is found in Michelangelo's "Last Judgement." In the 16th century, these images of flaying became very popular in iconography. Even medieval heraldry used flaying knives as symbols for him.

His story has also been used in art to help show anatomical details of the human body.

Many different Christian churches observe special feast days to honor him. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates him on June 11. The Coptic Orthodox Church commemorates his martyrdom on September 11. In the Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions, his feast is observed on August 24. Many churches also protect his relics, which are his physical remains. Some relics were kept in the city of Daras in Mesopotamia. Others were moved to the Basilica San Bartolomeo in Benevento, Italy, in the year 838.

A portion of his relics was also given to Rome in 983 by Emperor Otto II.

Bartholomew's legacy extends to many different professional groups. He is considered the patron saint of many trades involving skin or leather. These include tanners, leatherworkers, glove makers, and tailors. He is also the patron of bookbinders, because medieval books were often made from animal skin. Other groups include plasterers, housepainters, butchers, and even farmers. In certain parts of Tuscany, he was also linked to merchants of salt, oil, and cheese. His name eventually became associated with hospitals because of his historical connection to medicine.