Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Great Apostles. In all probability, it appears that Bartholomew and Nathaniel are one and the same person. He was a companion of the Apostle Philip and Philip’s sister, the virgin Mariamna and, for some time, a companion of St. John the Theologian. Bartholomew preached the Gospel first throughout Asia and, after that, in India and finally in Armenia where he died a martyr’s death. In Hierapolis, these holy apostles by prayer, caused the death of a large serpent which the heathens kept in their temple and worshipped. In this same city and, by prayer, they restored sight to Stachius who was blind for forty years. It was here that a mob rose up against them and they crucified Philip and Bartholomew (Bartholomew was crucified upside down). At this time, an earthquake occurred in which the evil judges and may people perished. Feeling that this was a punishment from God, many ran to remove the apostles from the crosses but Philip was already dead while Bartholomew was still alive. After this, Bartholomew went to India where he preached and translated the Gospel of St. Matthew into the Indian language. Following this, he entered Armenia where he cured the daughter of the king from insanity. But the envious brother of King Astyages seized God’s apostle, crucified him on a cross, skinned him and finally beheaded him in Armenian Albanopolis [Derbend]. Christians honorably buried his body in a lead sarcophagus. Because many miracles occurred over his relics, the pagans took the sarcophagus and tossed it into the sea. But the water carried the sarcophagus to the Island of Lipara where Bishop Agathon, through a revelation in a dream, met and buried it in the church. St. Bartholomew, attired in a white garment, appeared in church to Venerable Joseph, the Hymnographer, blessed him with the Gospel that he may be able to sing spiritual hymns saying: “Let heavenly waters of wisdom flow from your tongue!” He also appeared to Emperor Anastasius (491-518 A.D.) and told him that he would protect the newly established town of Dara. Later, the relics of this great apostle were translated to Benevento and then to Rome. Great and awesome miracles have occurred over these relics. (Prologue from Ochrid)
GREAT VESPERS
At the beginning of the Liturgy, immediately after “Blessed be the Kingdom” and “Amen,” we all kneel and sing the following in Tone 6, soamhlasen):
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who are everywhere present and filing all things, Treasury of all blessings and Giver of Life: come, dwell within us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our soul, O Gracious Lord.
Kathisma
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
8. As You, with the Son and the Spirit
adorned the heavens with fiery lights to shine on the earth,
so now You have confirmed Your household with heavenly speech;
through tongues of fire Your glory is proclaimed to all the earth!
7. When Christ’s disciples had assembled in Zion,
the all-Holy Spirit appeared as fire;
He came to rest on them, fulfilling the promise!
They were enlightened by His fiery breath,
and learned the mystery of the Trinity!
6. The Holy Spirit has come, perfecting God’s plan;
the Creator renews the creature!
He is a sword of heavenly steel,
by which the disciples crush all wicked powers!
They have vanquished the sword of the evil one,
for the salvation of our souls!
In Tone 4
5. You drew the ends of the earth out of the depths of vainglory
and evil ungodliness
with the net of your words, O divinely eloquent Apostle.
You brought them with faith to Christ God,
Who had given you such grace.
You are His divine disciple and the preacher of His mysteries,
O Apostle Bartholomew.
4. Jesus our God, the Sun of glory
sent you to the whole world like a ray of light
to disperse the gloom of ungodliness, O all-glorious one,
and to enlighten all who sit in the darkness of ignorance.
You made them heirs of the light, O divinely wise Bartholomew!
3. Submitting to the will of Him Whose will all things obey,
you imitated Him as a teacher of righteousness.
Because of His suffering on the Cross,
you stand before your ultimate desire,
joining the chorus with the Angels and Apostles,
O glorious Bartholomew.
You rejoiced as you drank the cup of death.
2. You have received invincible authority and power, O Apostle,
over demons in the Name of Christ,
to drive away the princes of darkness.
You travelled over the earth illumining it as brightly as the sun.
You were the first to arrive in Rome, O Barnabas,
preaching the saving coming of Christ.
1. You imitated the First Goodness
and the essential and all-divine life.
You became a good man in essence, O Barnabas,
receiving a name meaning “Son of Consolation.”
By the goodness of your character and purity of your mind,
you showed yourself to be a true disciple of Christ!
In Tone 6, Glory…
O all praised Barnabas,
radiant vessel of the Holy Spirit and “Son of Consolation,”
even before Paul you were the foremost of the seventy disciples;
with Paul you preached the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Therefore, fulfilling your talk of grace with your deeds,
you offered yourself as an immaculate whole burnt offering to Christ, your Teacher.
O glorious Apostle, we pray to you:
“Ever pray that our souls may be saved in peace!”
In Tone 2, Now…
We have seen the true light!
We have received the heavenly Spirit!
We have found the true faith,
worshipping the undivided Trinity,
Who has saved us!
Readings
(1) 1 Peter 1:3-9; (2) 1 Peter 1:13-19; (3) 1 Peter 2:11-24
Aposticha
In Tone 1
Your proclamation of salvation, O Apostles and seers of God,
has gone out into all the earth,
enlightening the souls of those who were lost,
bringing to Christ those who were illumined by grace of God.
Therefore pray that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!
Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe.
O all-radiant beacons of Christ,
most pure vessels containing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit through faith,
O all-wise Apostles, O pillars of the Church,
all-glorious heavens declaring to all the glory of God:
entreat Him that He may grant out souls peace and great mercy!
The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.
O blessed ones, you brought to Christ God
the nations that were ransomed by His blood.
He was well pleased to be born on earth,
and He freely endured the Cross and death.
O glorious ones, entreat Him now
that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!
In Tone 8, Glory…
O all-praised Barnabas, Apostle of the Saviour,
you are a vessel of faith, the “Son of Consolation,”
the calm harbour of the storm-tossed.
Since you have boldness, ever pray for our souls
that we may be preserved in peace on the day of your memorial!
In Tone 2, Now…
In Your prophets You have shown us the way of salvation,
and the grace of Your Spirit shines in Your apostles, Saviour!
You are God from the beginning, for time to come, and to the ages!
Truly You are our God!
Troparia
In Tone 1
Receiving the Spirit as He came in fiery tongues,* you preached the coming of the Word in the flesh.* While one of you was beheaded for the Gospel, * the other endured stoning for the sake of the faith.* You have been sent to adorn the choirs of heaven, O Bartholomew and Barnabas.* We honour your memory and ask that you intercede* with God to forgive our sins.
In Tone 8, Glory… Now…
Blessed are You, O Christ our God, for You have given us wise fishermen. After sending them Your Holy Spirit, You caught all the world through them – O loving Master, glory to You!
DIVINE LITURGY
At the beginning of the Liturgy, immediately after “Blessed be the Kingdom” and “Amen,” we all kneel and sing the following in Tone 6, soamhlasen):
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who are everywhere present and filing all things, Treasury of all blessings and Giver of Life: come, dwell within us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our soul, O Gracious Lord.
Antiphon 1
The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of his hand.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Day to day pours forth the message and night proclaims this knowledge to night.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…
Third Antiphon
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord,* let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
O good Advocate,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise,* and acclaim Him in psalms.
O good Advocate,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord,* the great king over all the earth.
O good Advocate,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: Blessed are You, O Christ our God who revealed the fishermen as most wise* by sending them the Holy Spirit;* through them You caught the entire world.* Loving Master, glory to You.
Troparion, Tone 1: Receiving the Spirit as He came in fiery tongues,* you preached the coming of the Word in the flesh.* While one of you was beheaded for the Gospel, * the other endured stoning for the sake of the faith.* You have been sent to adorn the choirs of heaven, O Bartholomew and Barnabas.* We honour your memory and ask that you intercede* with God to forgive our sins.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: O Bartholomew, Apostle of the Lord,* you appeared to the world as a shining star.* You enlightened with the splendor of your teachings and the wonder of your miracles* all those who honour you.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 3: O Barnabas, you became a perfect and faithful servant of the Lord.* You were the first of the seventy disciples* worthy to be the companion of Paul in his preaching.* You proclaimed to all that Christ is the Saviour.* Therefore, we celebrate your holy memory with hymns and songs.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.
verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hand. (Psalm 19:5,2)
Epistle
Romans 1:18-27; Acts 11:19-30
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: By the Lord’s words the heavens were established, and by the Breath of His mouth all their host.
verse: The Lord has looked down from heaven and beheld the whole human race.
verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.
verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)
Gospel
Matthew 5:20-26; Luke 10:16-21
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the one Divinity in three Persons.
Rejoice, O Queen, boast of the virgins and mothers, for every tongue, though capable and eloquent, cannot hymn you as is your due, and every mind is confounded in seeking to comprehend the way in which you gave birth. Wherefore with one accord we glorify you.
Communion Hymn
Your good Spirit will lead me* to the land of righteousness.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 142:10)