The sad story of San Bartolomeo, the martyr flayed alive
Today we want to tell you about St. Bartholomew Apostle, one of the disciples closest to Jesus, remembered for the martyrdom suffered, the most brutal of those suffered by the holy martyrs.
San Bartolomeo is one of twelve apostles of Jesus and according to Christian tradition he was flayed alive for his testimony of faith. His story is moving and painful, but it is also a testimony to the strength of the Christian faith.
Bartolomeo was originally from dthe Cana, in Galilee and like many of his fellow apostles, was a fisherman before meeting Jesus. He was introduced to Jesus by Philip, another apostle and immediately became a faithful follower.
After death of Jesus, Bartolomeo devoted himself to preaching of the gospel in various parts of the Middle East, including India and Armenia. Precisely in this last region, Bartolomeo met his tragic fate.
The terrifying end of San Bartolomeo
Legend has it that the king Astyages, convinced of the veracity of the bishop's words, he decided to convert to Christianity. However his son, Polimio, did not agree and decided to take revenge on Bartolomeo. Polymius thus organized a real conspiracy against the saint with the consent and favor of the royal family and the religious of the area.
One day, Bartolomeo was arrested and brought before the king, where he was forced to renounce his faith. But he, faithful to the word of Jesus, refused to give in and continued to preach the Gospel even in the face of the threat of death.
Polymius thus decided to inflict the most punishment on the saint cruel and inhumane possible. Bartholomew was flayed alive, his skin was torn from the body with ferocity and violence. The purpose of this torture was to inflict the maximum pain possible and to humiliate the apostle, thus demonstrating the superiority of the pagan faith.
But Bartolomeo resisted to the end, praying and singing hymns of praise to God. Finally, the saint died between terrible suffering and his body was thrown into a river. However, his faith and his courage left an indelible mark on Christian history.