Saint Bartholomew – 24 August

Not a great deal is known about Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles (Mark 3. 16 – 19).
Bartholomew, a family name splits into bar (son of) and Tolmai (his father’s name).
He would have had a personal name, possibly Nathaniel. This would mean that his full name was Nathanael bar Tolnai. Nathaniel was called with Philip (John 1. 43 – 51).
He is thought to have taken the Gospel to India and possibly to Ethiopia, Mesopotamia and Armenia. He is the patron saint of Armenia.