Apostles Bartholomew and BarnabasJune 11th
Apostle Bartholomew
He died as he had lived – afraid of nothing, and full of praise for the Holy Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Crucified upside down after having been betrayed by a group of pagan priests in Armenia, St. Bartholomew the Holy Apostle continued to preach the Good News of Christianity to everyone in earshot!
He was dying in a far-off land, around 80 A.D., and yet his heart was bursting with love and also with forgiveness for his killers. For this Great Apostle, nothing could diminish the sheer joy of having been allowed to serve Almighty God.
His life was a dramatic spectacle – an adventurous saga that ranged from the deserts of Palestine to the mountains of Phrygia to the great forest-covered plains of India, and everywhere in between. During his amazing odyssey as a defender of Jesus Christ, this fervent and bold-hearted Apostle would drive demons from the tiny body of a king’s daughter and fight a giant serpent (worshipped as a god by pagans) to TAKEN FROMthe death. He would also restore the sight of a man who had been blind for more than 40 years.
The story of St. Bartholomew begins at Cana, in the Galilee region of Palestine, where he was born a few years after Christ, according to most Church historians. Converted while listening to the preaching of Christ’s disciples in Galilee, Bartholomew (also known as “Nathaniel”) would soon become one of the Lord’s most trusted Apostles.
After the miracle at Pentecost, where each of the Original Twelve was assigned to carry the Good News to a different country, Bartholomew would for a while become a close companion of his fellow-Apostle, Philip. Accompanied by Philip’s sister – the highly esteemed virgin Mariamna – the two apostles would preach together in many countries in Asia Minor and elsewhere.
At the city of Hierapolis, located in the Roman Province of Phrygia (today part of modern Turkey), these three missionaries confronted an enormous serpent that was confined to a temple and worshipped by the local pagans. Instead of bowing down before the gargantuan reptile as commanded, however, Bartholomew and Philip began to pray fervently. Threatened with death, they continued their orisons . . . until the great snake suddenly went into massive convulsions and finally rolled over on its back, dead as a stone!
Amazed by this outcome, but still not fully trusting the Christian Apostles, the wary Phrygians took the saint to visit a local unfortunate who had been blind for more than 40 years. His name was Stachios, and when he begged the kindly Bartholomew for help, the saint did not disappoint him. The faithful Apostle prayed to the Son of God . . . and the blind man’s eyes opened wide. A moment later, he began to proclaim loudly: “I can see, I can see!”
Once the onlookers realized what had happened, pandemonium ensued. Who could explain the event these idol-worshippers had just witnessed? There was no denying the power of St. Bartholomew’s God, and many of the area residents began to convert to Christianity as a result. Others, meanwhile, were bringing sick friends and loved ones and those possessed by demons to pray with the kind-hearted Apostle from Palestine. Seeing this, however, the pagan priests began to mutter among themselves; increasingly, they feared that the idol-worshippers were about to turn away from their ancestral gods . . . which meant that they would no longer need their priests!
At last the aggrieved clerics managed to convince the civil authorities that all three missionaries should be arrested. But when the Roman ruler of the Province ordered that their garments should be searched carefully ((he feared that they might be hiding magic potions in their underclothing!), the chaste and modest Mariamna exploded into revolt. Spontaneously, she burst into roaring flame . . . and although she herself was not even singed, several of those who had been pawing over her garments were burnt beyond recognition!
Seeing all of this, the pagan priests immediately called for the Christians to be killed. Hung from crosses, the two men were slowly dying, when a ferocious earthquake shattered the Phrygian landscape, killing their judges and the Roman Governor in a flash. This miracle caused a wholesale panic among the remaining soldiers and priests, who quickly cut the saints down from their crosses. Although the lion-hearted Philip was already dead, and now wears the Crown of Martyrdom in Heaven, St. Bartholomew was saved by Providence at the last moment.
Indeed, he had many years of life remaining. After eventually leaving Phrygia with Mariamna (who died peacefully, soon thereafter, in Likaoneia), he would work many wonders and bring many to Christ in far-off India, before moving on to Armenia to continue the Lord’s work. At the town of Derbend, he would drive the demons of madness from the Emperor Polimios’ young daughter – only to be betrayed by the monarch’s jealous brother, Astyages. In the end, this tyrannical ruler would issue orders to crucify the missionary from Palestine. Before St. Bartholomew’s suffering was over, he would have the skin flayed from his body and then behead him.
The last chapter had ended; and the saga of the Great Apostle was over. He died around 85 A.D., according to Church historians, but his miracles had not ended yet. Buried by local Christians inside a lead casket, he was eventually flung into the ocean during a local battle. But the casket floated . . . all the way to the island of Lipara, where the local Bishop, Agathon, received a revelation in a dream and hurried down to the beach to claim the casket of the Great Apostle. After giving thanks to Almighty God, he arranged for the remains to be buried in his own churchyard.
Later still, a white-clad apparition of the saint appeared in a Christian church and confronted Venerable Joseph, the Hymnographer, who had been praying to God for help in writing a series of Christian hymns, or canons. Smiling peacefully, the Great Apostle told the songwriter: “Let heavenly waters of wisdom flow from your tongue!” (That was all that John needed to hear, apparently, because he went straight to work and wound up writing more than 300 majestic canons!)
A warm and affectionate preacher blessed with enthusiasm for life, the Great Apostle Bartholomew took great relish in traveling everywhere throughout the known world, and in learning everything he could about the cultures in which he was doing his best to teach the Good News of Jesus Christ. A faithful servant of Jesus and a Martyr who ended his life while praising God and forgiving his executioners, he wonderfully illuminates the sacred admonition that tells us we should at all times put our trust in God.
Trusting to the end, this Great Apostle and Venerable Martyr continues to inspire Christians, wherever two or more of them are gathered in His Holy name!
Holy Apostle Barnabas of the Seventy
It was one of the most significant – and dramatic – dialogues in the entire history of Christianity.
Two young men, both dedicated students living in Jerusalem during the First Century A.D., were talking heatedly about the Gospel of an electrifying preacher and miracle-worker from Galilee. One of these students was Barnabas, who would later become a great evangelizer and a martyr for Jesus. The other student was Saul, an intellectually accomplished and charismatic Jewish leader of the day, who for some time had been leading a fierce campaign against the followers of Christ.
Their fateful dialogue on this day, which probably took place around 40 A.D., would be preserved for history by the writers of the New Testament, and particularly by the author of the Acts of the Apostles. It began when Barnabas, a pious and dedicated new follower of Christ (after witnessing several of his miracles), upbraided Saul for his continual attacks on the new Christians: “O Saul,” asked his friend, “how long has it been, and do you not cease to be a blasphemer of the great name of Jesus Christ, and a persecutor of his faithful servants? How long will you remain against this awesome mystery, which has been foretold by the Prophets, and has been fulfilled for the sake of our salvation?”
Saul did not respond immediately. Watching him, Barnabas could see that he was struggling inwardly – and that it was a deep, life-changing struggle. Amazed, St. Barnabas then watched the great Saul begin to weep. The tears were streaming down the persecutor’s face when he finally began to speak, according to several historic accounts of The Seventy: “Forgive me, O teacher of truth, Barnabas, for now I understand all that you have told me about Christ the Truth, He of whom I was once a blasphemer, and called ‘son of a carpenter,’ this same do I now confess to be the Son of God, the Only-begotten, co-unoriginate with the Father, and the Eternal Spirit, who in the last days being the reflection of the glory of God the Father, and the image of His being, who in the last days humbled Himself, taking upon Him the form of a servant [Philippians 2:7], who became, in truth, perfect man, being born from the holy Virgin and Birthgiver of God, Mary. Who had accepted His voluntary Passion on the Cross, then rose on the third day, appearing to you and the other Apostles, who ascended into the heavens, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father, who again entered into His glory and will one day judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom shall have no end.”
Listening to this passionate outburst from his dear friend and fellow-student, St. Barnabas was also deeply moved – and for good reason: He had just heard a description of the heart of the Christian doctrine that would change the world! Realizing that his companion had in fact been converted to the same doctrine, the future martyr and saint could not contain his joy: “Who has taught you, O Saul,” he asked his loyal friend, “to speak with such God-inspired words? And who has changed you to confess that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God? Where have you learned to come to a complete understanding of these divine dogmas?”
It was a supremely fateful question.
For many years – before both men were brutally martyred while preaching that same Gospel to pagans in two different lands – St. Barnabas and St. Paul would travel together and help to convert the world to the Good News of Christ’s Kingdom of Heaven, based on love and forgiveness instead of merely on the Law.
Born on the island of Cyprus to a rich Jewish family that had emigrated there after fleeing the wars of Palestine two generations before, Barnabas (at first called “Joseph’) would be sent back to the Holy City to study Hebrew law, philosophy and theology under the guidance of the famed tutor of Jerusalem, Gamaliel. As a member of the tribe of Levi, this young man came from a privileged background and could command all of the resources necessary to obtain the very best education available anywhere.
A pious and devout student, Joseph would be amazed by the appearance in Judea of a messianic figure from the region of Galilee – a preacher and miracle-worker who claimed to be nothing less than the Son of God incarnated. At first the young man from Cyprus was skeptical . . . but after watching Him perform several miracles, the student felt an inner fire beginning to burn in his heart. Surely this astonishingly charismatic preacher and healer was the Messiah whom the Prophets had foretold!
Having converted to Christianity almost overnight, Joseph would change his name to Barnabas (the name, which means “Son of Consolation,” was chosen because of his amazing ability to comfort the people with whom he spoke). St. Barnabas would then go on to become a marvelous evangelizer and miracle-worker himself.
Soon, he and Paul – along with the Apostle St. Mark – would be preaching the Holy Gospel to the pagans of Antioch (now part of modern Turkey) and in several other prominent cities of the Middle East. Indeed, most historians of the early Church are convinced that St. Barnabas was the first to preach the new doctrine of salvation through belief in the Son of God in both Rome and Milan, where the new faith soon began to take root.
In the end, however, the great St. Barnabas would return to his roots in Cyprus – there to be martyred in the Year of Our Lord 62 by angry Jews who had been incited by their own jealous priests. Now 76, the old man did not protest when his executioners pelted him with heavy stones. After quickly killing him, his enemies attempted to burn the body beyond recognition, but were thwarted when it remained completely unmarked by the flames.
The Great Martyr was buried by his old friend the Apostle Mark, beyond the western wall of the town of Salamis – with the Gospel of St. Matthew (which he had copied out by hand at the latter’s direction) lying flat on his chest. For the next 400 years, his relics would molder silently in the dark . . . before he appeared mysteriously in three dreams experienced by the Archbishop of Cyprus, Anthymos, during which he told the latter about the location of his body. After the holy man hurried with a group of excavators to the site, all of them were stunned to find his remains untouched by decay, with the manuscript from St. Matthew still on his chest and easily legible! To this day, the life and death of St. Barnabas has supported the claim of the Holy Church on Cyprus to be “apostolic,” and thus entitled to self-rule in matters of faith and dogma.
On this day, June 11, the Holy Church each year commemorates the memory of this supremely faithful Saint and Martyr Barnabas, whose long life of preaching the Gospel – and whose deep friendship with the Great Teacher, St. Paul – proved so decisively important in the unfolding of the Christian faith throughout the entire world.
The life of the Great Martyr Barnabas beautifully summarizes the story of the Holy Gospel itself. Having trusted and served both God the Father and God the Son, and having been enlightened and refreshed on every step of the way by the Holy Spirit, St. Barnabas lived and died the Good News of Jesus Christ! Is it any wonder, then, that his evangelizing has proved so fruitful in spreading that same Good News throughout the world for the past nineteen centuries?
Apolytikion in the Third Tone
O Holy Apostles, intercede with the merciful God that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone (for Bartholomew)
To the Church thou hast appeared as a great daystar; with thy teachings as thy rays and beams of awesome miracles, thou hast enlightened those praising thee, the Lord's Apostle, O sacred Bartholomew.
Kontakion in the Third Tone (for Barnabas)
To thy Lord, O Barnabas, thou wast a genuine servant; and among the Seventy Apostles, thou wast the foremost; and with Paul, thou shonest brightly in thy wise preaching, making known unto all men Christ Jesus, the Saviour. For this cause, we celebrate thy divine memorial with hymns and spiritual songs.
