St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church Regent Park

509 Dundas Street East

Toronto, Ontario

History of our Saint

Bartholomew, Apostle and Martyr, was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus. He seems to have been the same person as Nathanael. Jesus said of him, “Behold an Israelite in whom is no guile.” In the Synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Philip and Bartholomew are always mentioned together, while Nathanael is never mentioned. On the other hand, Philip and Nathanael are similarly mentioned together in the gospel of John, but nothing is said of Bartholomew.

 

According to scripture, Bartholomew was one of the disciples to whom Jesus appeared at the Sea of Tiberias after the resurrection (John 21:2). He also witnessed the ascension (Acts 1:4, 12, 13).

 

After the ascension, Bartholomew went on a missionary tour to India where he left behind a copy of the Gospel of Matthew. Later, in Armenia, he was flayed alive and then crucified upside down.  In works of art he is often represented with a large knife or, as in Michelangelo's Last Judgment, holding his own skin.

 

Saint Bartholomew and Saint Jude Thaddeus brought Christianity to Armenia in the 1st century. Both are patron saints of Armenia. Saint Bartholomew’s arm bone is kept in Canterbury Cathedral. The feast day of St. Bartholomew is August 24th.

Mother Teresa chatting with Fr. Greene in St. Bart’s rectory

In a visit to Toronto, Mother Teresa of Calcutta asked to visit the parish that reached out to the neediest people in Toronto. People directed her to St. Bartholomew’s where Father Greene told her of our Cabbagetown ministries. Serving the needy is part of the Anglo-Catholic tradition.

A Prayer of the Missionaries of Charity

Dear Lord, the Great Healer, I kneel before Thee,

Since every perfect gift must come from Thee.

I pray, give skill to my hands, clear vision to my

mind, kindness and meekness to my heart.

Give me singleness of purpose, strength to lift

up a part of the burden of my suffering fellow

men, and a true realization of the privilege that is mine.

Take from my heart all guile and worldliness,

That with the simple faith of a child, I may rely on Thee. Amen.

Kontakion of the Apostle Bartholomew

 Thou didst appear as a great sun to the world with miracles and the rays of thy teachings. Thou dost guide to the light all who venerate thee,

O Bartholomew, Apostle of the Lord.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta  Came Calling at St.Bart’s