Gregorian

Names

Search

Katamaros

September 12, 2023 - Tout 1, 1740

Departure of St. Bartholomew, the Apostle

On this day also was the departure of the holy Apostle Bartholomew, one of the twelve disciples. to this Apostle fell the lot that he was to go to the oasis (the great oasis, Al-Khargah). He and Peter went together. There he proceeded and preached to the people. He called them to the knowledge of God, after performing before them signs and wonders that amazed their minds. He had originally entered the city with Peter, who sold him as a slave. He worked in the vineyards of a rich man and whenever he trimmed the vine branches, they immediately bore fruit. It happened that the son of the governor of that city died, and Bartholomew the Apostle raised him up from the dead. Then all the people believed and he strengthened them in the knowledge of God. After that, our Lord Jesus Christ commanded him to go to the land of the Berbers and sent St. Andrew, his disciple, to help him.

The people of that city were exceedingly wicked, and would not accept any of the signs or wonders the disciples performed. Yet the two disciples continued to preach and teach them until they entered the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then, they appointed priests over them, built churches for them, and after that they departed. St. Bartholomew left for the cities on the Mediterranean coast, where the inhabitants knew not God, and preached unto them and converted them to the knowledge of God and the belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. He taught them to perform the works which were worthy of Christianity and commanded them to be pure and chaste. When King Agrippa heard of him, he was exceedingly enraged and commanded his servants to put him in a hair sack, to fill the sack with sand, and cast it into the sea. And so were consumated the struggle and martyrdom of St. Bartholomew. May his blessings and prayers be with us all. Amen.