Saint Bartholomew
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Bartholomew is listed in the Bible as being one of the twelve apostles (see quotations below). He was with the other apostles after Jesus ascended into heaven, but we know nothing more of him. It is possible that he was the same person as Nathaniel, the man whom Philip brought to Jesus as mentioned in St. John's Gospel, whom Jesus described as "as Israelite, in whom there is no guile." Nothing else is known of him, although later traditions suggest that he preached in Asia Minor, northern India, and in Armenia, where he was flayed alive and then beheaded — the basis for his patronage of tanners.
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The emblem for St. Bartholomew, as shown in Tweedmouth parish church, is three flaying knives on a red background. |
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Biblical references to Bartholomew:
Matthew 10:1 - 4
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Acts 1:13, 14
When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Reference to Nathanael who is possible the same person as Bartholomew:
John 1:45-51
Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you."
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig-tree. You shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
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Collect Almighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and preach yout word: grant that your Church may love that word which he believed and may faithfully preach and receive the same; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. |
Feast Day - 24th August.
Patronages - Tanners.
Emblems - Tanner's knife.