One of the twelve apostles of Jesus (Gospel of Mark 3, 14-19). The name means "son of the furrow-drawer". He was led to Jesus from the circle of John's disciples at the Jordan by Philip under his Israelite name Nathanael of Cana. Legends also see him as the bridegroom of the wedding at Cana (Gospel of John 2, 1-11). He is credited with spreading the gospel in Egypt, Armenia, India and Persia, healing the sick and the possessed. According to legend, his skin was flayed from his body in Armenia and he was then crucified upside down (picture on the left by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, picture on the right painting by Gioacchino Assereto).
St Bartholomew is the patron saint of miners, plasterers, farmers, winegrowers, shepherds, leather workers, tanners, saddlers, shoemakers, tailors, bakers, butchers, bookbinders and oil and cheese merchants. His day of remembrance is 24 August. Calendar sayings relating to this date and the apostle are: 1) Rain on St Bartolomä - hurts the vines bitterly. 2) The weather on St Bartholomew's Day is the measure of winter". See also under Farmers' Rules and Wine Saints.
