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Bartholomew is often identified with the Gospel figure of Nathaniel, since St. John the Evangelist never mentions Bartholomew by name, and the other three Evangelists never mention Nathaniel. In John’s Gospel, Nathaniel is clearly a friend of the Apostle Philip, while in the other three Gospels, Philip and Bartholomew are always mentioned together. After Pentecost, Bartholomew preached far and wide like his fellow Apostles. He was known to have evangelized India, where centuries later other missionaries found descendants of Bartholomew’s converts in possession of a Hebrew copy of the Gospel of St. Matthew. Eventually, Bartholomew preached in Armenia, where he angered certain high-ranking pagans for converting an Armenian king. The Apostle was seized and flayed alive. During this horrible torment he continued to preach and praise the Lord, until he was finally beheaded, around the year of Our Lord 70. His painful martyrdom has been the subject of many famous artistic portrayals. Among other causes, Bartholomew has long been considered a patron of tanners, leather-workers, and other related trades.
THE apostle St. Bartholomew, who preached the Gospel of Christ in India. He passed thence into the Greater Armenia, where, after converting many to the faith, he was flayed alive by the barbarians, and beheaded by order of king Astyages, and thus he terminated his martyrdom. His sacred body was first carried to the island of Lipara, then to Benevento, and finally to Rome in the island of the Tiber, where it is venerated by the pious faithful.
At Carthage, three hundred holy martyrs, in the time of Valerian and Gallienus. Among other torments inflicted on them, a pit filled with burning lime was prepared by order of the governor, who, live coals with incense being brought to him, said to the confessors: “Choose one of these two things; to offer incense to Jupiter on these coals, or to cast yourselves into the lime.” Armed with faith, and confessing Christ to be the Son of God, they quickly precipitated themselves into the pit, and amidst the vapors of the lime were reduced to dust. From this circumstance this blessed troop obtained the appellation of White Mass.
At Nepi, St. Ptolemy, bishop, disciple of the blessed apostle Peter. Being sent by him to preach the Gospel in Tuscany, he died a glorious martyr of Christ in the city of Nepi.
In the same place, St. Romanus, bishop of that city, who was the disciple of St. Ptolemy, and his companion in martyrdom.
At Ostia, St. Aurea, virgin and martyr, who was plunged into the sea with a stone tied to her neck. Her body, being cast on the shore, was buried by blessed Nounus.
In Isauria, St. Tatio, martyr, who received the crown of martyrdom by being beheaded in the persecution of Domitian, under the governor Urbanus.
The same day, St. Eutychius, disciple of the blessed Evangelist John. He preached the Gospel in many countries, was subjected to imprisonment, to stripes and fire, and finally he rested in peace.
Also, St. George Limniota, monk. Because he reprehended the impious emperor Leo for breaking holy images and burning the relics of the saints, he had his hands cut off and his head burned by order of the tyrant, and went to our Lord to receive the recompense of a martyr.
At Rouen, St. Owen, bishop and confessor.
At Nevers, St. Patrick, abbot.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.