The Martyrdom of Bartholomew: Greek, Arabic, and Armenian Versions

The apostle Bartholomew is long remembered for the gruesome nature of his martyrdom. It is an image popularized by Renaissance art, and famed for its brutality. However, the legends that surrounds the life, ministry, and death of this apostle are varied. All accounts name Armenia as the region of his death, and as the founder of the church in that nation. Yet, there is still considerable mystery to his activity. This text contains three different account regarding his life, all from different time periods and cultures. The Greek account grants few details, and was likely composed in North Mesopotamia by a Nestorian author in the 6th century. The Arabic account if likely from the 7th or 8th century and is also terse. The Armenian account is the version that is by far the most complete and detailed. It is here published in its unabridged form in English for the first time.