O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who didst give to thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach thy Word: Grant, we beseech thee, unto thy Church, to love that Word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles and is mentioned sixth in three of the Gospel lists, and seventh in the Apostle list in the Books of Acts. The name Bartholomaios means 'son of Talmai' which is a Hebrew name. This shows that Bartholomew was of Hebrew descent and it may have been his genuine proper name or simply added to distinguish him as the son of Talmai.
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