![[Saint Bartholomew]](ncd01035.gif "6kb gif New Catholic Dictionary illustration for the article 'Saint Bartholomew'")
Apostle, listed among the twelve Apostles (Matthew 10; Mark 3; Luke 6).
Mention of him occurs infrequently in the Gospels, probably because Bartholomew was his patronymic rather than his proper name, and meant "son of Talmai or Tholmai"; some commentators identify him with Nathanael (John 1), although this theory is nowhere conclusively proved.
Bartholomew was introduced to Christ by his friend, Saint Philip; his missionary labors brought him to India, Mesopotamia, Parthia, and Lycaonia.
He is said to have died in Albanopolis, Armenia, but the stories of his death differ; according to one he was beheaded; others state that he was flayed alive and crucified.
For this reason he is usually represented in art as flayed and holding his skin in his own hand.
Emblems: knife, cross.
Feast, Roman Calendar, 24 August.
New Catholic Dictionary
