St Bartholomew and St Barnabas Apostles

St. Bartholomew and St. Barnabas, Apostles Feast Day and Greek Name Day

St. Bartholomew and St. Barnabas, Apostles are honored in the Orthodox Christian Church as early disciples who helped spread the message of Christianity throughout the world. Their feast day is celebrated on June 11, and on this day people named Bartholomew, Bartholomaios, Vartholomaios, Vartholomeos, Bart, Bartos, Barnabas, Varnavas, Barney, and Vana, among other variations, celebrate their Greek name day.

Who Were St. Bartholomew and St. Barnabas

St. Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John he is commonly identified with Nathanael, a disciple who was called by Christ early in His ministry.

After the Resurrection of Christ, Bartholomew traveled widely preaching the Gospel and establishing Christian communities.

St. Barnabas, whose name means son of encouragement, was an early Christian leader and missionary. He was originally from the island of Cyprus and became one of the most important figures in the early spread of Christianity.

Missionary Work of the Apostles

St. Barnabas played a key role in the early Christian Church. He worked closely with St. Paul the Apostle and helped introduce Paul to the Christian community in Jerusalem after Paul’s conversion.

Together they traveled on missionary journeys spreading Christianity throughout the eastern Mediterranean.

St. Bartholomew is believed to have preached in regions including Armenia, Asia Minor, and India, bringing the Christian message to many early communities.

Martyrdom and Legacy

Christian tradition holds that St. Bartholomew was eventually martyred for his faith, suffering death after refusing to renounce Christianity.

St. Barnabas continued missionary work throughout the region and is remembered as one of the Seventy Apostles, a group of early disciples who helped establish the Christian Church beyond the original Twelve.

Both saints are remembered for their dedication to spreading the teachings of Christ and building the foundations of the early Christian Church.

Greek Name Day for Bartholomew and Barnabas

Because St. Bartholomew and St. Barnabas are commemorated on June 11, this date is also the Greek name day for:

Bartholomew

Bartholomaios

Vartholomaios

Vartholomeos

Bart

Bartos

Barnabas

Varnavas

Barney

Vana

In Greek culture, celebrating a name day is often just as important as celebrating a birthday. Friends and family commonly offer well wishes or visits to honor the person whose name is being celebrated.

When St. Bartholomew and St. Barnabas Are Celebrated

The feast day of St. Bartholomew and St. Barnabas, Apostles is observed each year on June 11 in the Greek Orthodox Church. They are remembered for their missionary work, their role in spreading Christianity, and their dedication to the teachings of Jesus Christ.