St. Bartholomew, a doctor in Jewish law, hailed from Cana in Galilee, was one of the first disciples called by the Lord. In St. John's Gospel, Bartholomew is known by the name Nathaniel (the liturgy does not always seem aware of this identity).

St. Philip the Apostle considered him a great friend and said Bartholomew was a man in his mind who was open to the truth. He went willingly with Philip to see Christ, and recognized the Saviour immediately as the Son of God.

On that initial meeting Jesus uttered the glorious compliment: "Behold, an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile!" After the resurrection he was favoured by becoming one of the few apostles who witnessed the appearance of the risen Saviour on the sea of Galilee (John 21:2).

After having received the gifts of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost, Bartholomew evangelized Asia Minor, northwestern India, and Greater Armenia. In the latter country, while preaching to idolaters, he was arrested and condemned to death.

Concerning the fate of his relics, the Martyrology says: "His holy body was first taken to the island of Lipari (north of Sicily), then to Benevento, and finally to Rome on an island in the Tiber where it is honoured by the faithful with pious devotion."

The Church of Armenia has a national tradition that St. Jude Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew visited the Armenians early in the first century and introduced Christianity among the worshippers of the god Ahura Mazda.