St. Bartholomew

Who they were

Bartholomew the apostle is traditionally identified with Nathanael of Cana, an identification that is ancient and strong, and it gives him one of the best introductions in Scripture. Told by Philip that the Messiah has been found and that he is from Nazareth, Nathanael answers with the immortal shrug: can anything good come out of Nazareth?

Philip does not argue. He says come and see. What follows is the Gospels' warmest compliment, the Lord's verdict on honest scepticism honestly held: behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. And Nathanael's turn, at one sentence about a fig tree, is total. He reappears at the lakeshore breakfast in the last chapter of John, and then tradition carries him east, to Armenia above all, which claims him as its apostle and whose church he co founded by its ancient account. The manner of his martyrdom there is grim and is better named than depicted.

Why people turn to St. Bartholomew

The sceptics, whose opening question is his. The answer is still Philip's: come and see. Leatherworkers and tanners by the old grim title. Armenian Christians, whose apostle he is.

How to ask their intercession

With the shrug intact. Pray the objection, then come and see one mystery's worth. He was not rebuked for the question and neither will you be.