Saint Bartholomew

Saint Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. His full name is Nathanael Bartholomew – Nathanael, the son of Tolmai. The name Nathanael means "gift of God". How Jesus called him to be one of his disciples is told in the first chapter of the Gospel of Saint John:

“Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

We learn from this that Nathanael was a pious and righteous man. A little suspicious, but sincere and straightforward. Jesus treated him kindly and immediately won his heart. The promise that Jesus gave to Bartholomew is for all of us: in Jesus the heavens are open. He is the one in whom God gives us His presence. Jesus is the true gift of God, in Him God’s saving grace has come to us.