The return of the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew: a powerful prayer on September 7

On September 7, Orthodox Christians remember one of the twelve closest disciples of Christ, the Apostle Bartholomew. This day is connected not only with his martyrdom and missionary service, but also with a special event — the return of his relics, which were venerated back in the sixth century. What to pray to the apostle is in the material of Izvestia.

The Apostle Bartholomew: biography of the saint

Every year on September 7, the Orthodox Church commemorates the event related to the transfer of the relics of St. Bartholomew the Apostle. This date is fixed in the calendar and is celebrated in many Orthodox local churches. In the liturgical books, it is located next to the memorial day of the apostle from among the 70, St. Titus.

The origins of the celebration date back to the end of the sixth century. Then the relics of the apostle, which had been moving to different places for a long time, were rediscovered and received special veneration. For the church tradition, this was a confirmation of the continuity of the apostolic faith and the careful treatment of the shrines of the first witnesses of the Resurrection of Christ.

The Apostle Bartholomew is one of the twelve closest disciples of the Savior. In the Gospels he is mentioned among the Twelve, and in the tradition of the Church he is identified with Nathanael.

After Pentecost, the saint preached in Syria, Asia Minor, and, according to a number of sources, even in India. His mission in Armenia was accompanied by miracles of healing, and it was there that he was martyred.

The fate of his relics after his death turned out to be difficult. They were transported from Akhbak to Martyropolis, then to Daru (in Mesopotamia). During the Persian invasion, according to the chronicles, the ark with the relics was thrown into the sea, but it miraculously ended up on the island of Lipari. Later, the relic was moved to Benevento, where it is still kept today in the Basilica of San Bartolomeo. Since the 10th century, some of the relics have been in the Roman church on the island of Tiberina.

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On September 7, the Russian Orthodox Church established a special celebration of the transfer of the relics of the apostle. It has the status of a sixfold celebration and includes special prayer services and hymns.

The veneration of the Apostle Bartholomew unites different Christian traditions. In the Catholic Church, his memory is celebrated on August 24, and in the Armenian Apostolic Church — on other dates, according to its own calendar.

For believers, September 7 is a day of participation in the liturgy, prayer to the apostle for health and strengthening in the faith, reading the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. It is also customary to perform works of mercy as a continuation of apostolic ministry. Numerous testimonies of miracles from his relics have been preserved: myrrh-streaming and healing, thanks to which the saint has always been revered as an intercessor and healer.

Strong prayer to the Apostle Bartholomew on September 7

In the Orthodox and Catholic traditions, the Apostle Bartholomew (identified with Nathanael) is prayed for protection, forgiveness of sins, strengthening of faith and help in illness.

In Orthodox practice, he is approached primarily with requests for forgiveness and spiritual protection.

A strong prayer to the Apostle Bartholomew:

"O most glorious Apostle of Christ Bartholomew, who gave up his soul for Christ and fertilized His pasture with your blood! Hear your children's prayers and sighs, which are now offered with a contrite heart. For we will be clouded by iniquities, and for that we will be burdened with troubles like clouds, but we will be impoverished with the oil of a good life, and we will not be able to resist the predatory wolf, who boldly seek to plunder the inheritance of God. Oh, the strong one! Bear with our infirmities, do not separate yourself from us in spirit, so that we may not be separated in the end from the love of God, but protect us with your strong intercession, so that the Lord may have mercy on us all for the sake of your prayers, may He destroy the handwriting of our immeasurable sins, and may He grant with all the saints His blessed Kingdom and the marriage of His Lamb, Whose honor and glory and thanksgiving and worship forever and ever. Amen to that."

The return of the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew: what not to do

In the old days, September 7 was considered a particularly good day for travel and shopping. In some areas, it was customary to wash with "silver water" — the one in which the jewelry or coin lay overnight, and also go to the bathhouse for cleansing.

Economic observations were also linked to the date. The harvested grain portended a harsh and long winter. The birds' behavior also served as a clue: if they landed on the ground, they expected warmth soon, and if they settled on the roofs, they expected dry and clear weather.

However, there were strict prohibitions on this day. Catching rats and mice was considered a bad omen, capable of causing hunger and hardship. It was not recommended to start construction or major renovation work — it was believed that new houses or buildings would be short-lived and bring troubles.

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Special attention was paid to mushrooms. The destruction of inedible mushrooms, such as fly agarics, was regarded as a bad omen: it was believed that this could lead to wandering in the forest or encountering a Goblin. Witchcraft during the rain was also dangerous — folk belief claimed that rainwater washed away the power of any rite. They also tried to avoid quarrels: a conflict that started that day could drag on for a long time and lead to a breakup.

At the same time, there were also useful traditions. It was believed that the mushroom harvest season ended on St. Bartholomew's Day: everything that was harvested later was consumed only fresh. At the same time, they began to collect mountain ash, which was dried or kept cool, believing that berries harvested before frost retained their medicinal properties.

People closely followed the signs of nature: if the leaves were falling especially actively, it was perceived as a sure sign of the approach of an early and cold winter.