Bartholomew the Apostle Greek Orthodox Icon
Commemorates on: June 11
Saint Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles, and had Galilee as his
homeland; this is all that is known of him for certain according to the history
of the Gospels. Concerning his apostolic work, certain say that he preached in
Arabia and Persia, and especially in India, bringing to them the Gospel written
by Saint Matthew, which had been written originally in Hebrew, and which was
found there one hundred years later by Pantaenus, formerly a stoic philosopher
and later an illustrious teacher of the Christian school in Alexandria. Other
accounts say that he went to Armenia. According to some, he ended his life by
being crucified, or by being flayed alive, in Albanopolis (Urbanopolis) of
Armenia. This also confirms an ancient tradition preserved by the Armenians.
According to some, Bartholomew and Nathanael are the same person, because the
Evangelists who mention Bartholomew do not mention Nathanael; and John, who
alone mentions Nathanael as one of the Twelve, says nothing of Bartholomew. Indeed,
Bartholomew is a patronymic, "son of Talmai," which means "bold,
spirited", and Nathanael could have had this as a surname. According to
the Synaxarion of the Menaion on April 22, however, it is Simon the Zealot and
Nathanael who are the same; the Evangelists who mention Simon the Zealot (or
"the Cananite") do not mention Nathanael.