✝️Today, we remember Bartholomew the Apostle.
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Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ who is known for his initial skepticism about Jesus' origins, his subsequent recognition of Jesus as the Son of God, and his missionary work spreading the Gospel, particularly in Armenia where he was martyred for his faith.
“Here is a true child of Israel. There is no guile in him."
-- Jesus Christ, referring to Bartholomew
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Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus Christ.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”
51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’[d] the Son of Man.”
He witnessed Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection, and received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
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Bartholomew traveled extensively to spread the Gospel, including to India, Armenia, and Mesopotamia.
He is credited with bringing Christianity to Armenia, where he and Saint Jude are considered patron saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
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Tradition holds that Bartholomew was martyred, likely flayed alive and beheaded, for his missionary work in Armenia.
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Traditions associated with Bartholomew include:
🏴England: Gingerbread cakes stamped with St. Bartholomew's image served at Bartholomew Fairs
🏴England (Sandwich, Kent): St. Bartholomew's Bun Race where children race around St. Bartholomew's Hospital chapel and receive currant buns
🏴England (Crewkerne, Somerset): St Bartholomew's Street Fair held annually in early September
🇮🇹🇪🇸Italy and Spain: Watermelon festivals held on St. Bartholomew's Day
🇪🇸Spain (Majorca): Children make lanterns from watermelons and parade through villages
🇮🇹Italy (Lipari): Feast kept on August 25 to commemorate the arrival of St. Bartholomew's remains in 580
🇮🇹Italy (Benevento): Yearly celebration honoring the translation of St. Bartholomew's relics since 809
🇮🇹Italy (Fiumalbo): Town illuminated with fire on August 23, followed by processions and fireworks
🇦🇿Azerbaijan: Solemnly celebrated as the Patron Saint on August 24
🇦🇲Armenia: Honored as one of the patron saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church
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🏴The Bartholomew Fair was one of London's pre-eminent summer charter fairs. A charter for the fair was granted by King Henry I to fund the Priory of St Bartholomew in 1133.
It took place each year on 24 August (St Bartholomew's Day) within the precincts of the Priory at West Smithfield, London until 1855 when it was banned due to the unruly crowd and what was seen as inappropriate entertainment for Victorian London.
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You’ll also find the church of St Bartholomew the Great at Smithfields.
It is London’s oldest Parish church, welcoming worshippers for over 900 years.
Sometime before 1180, there was an apparition of the Virgin Mary to Canon Hubert there. She berated the Canons for their laxity in devotion to her and her son.
As a result, a much larger Lady Chapel was built at the East End of the Church.
👉🏻 greatstbarts.com/history-of-st-…
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"Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.'"
-- John 1:45
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Almighty and everlasting God,
who didst give to thine apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach thy Word:
Grant, we beseech thee,
unto thy Church, to love that which he believed,
and to preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee,
in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
ever one God,
world without end. Amen.
To find out more about St Bartholomew:
👉🏻 classic.dailyoffice2019.com/commemorations…
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