What we do know about Saint Bartholomew:

He was one of the Twelve Apostles.

His name was traditionally confused with Nathanael.
         Bartholomew and Nathanael may be the one and the same man.
         The websites below give details on the confusion.

He came from Cana in Galilee, where Jesus performed
          His first miracle.

His best friend Philip introduced him to Jesus.
         When Bartholomew heard that Jesus was from Nazareth, he was
         doubtful and asked: "Can anything Good come from Nazareth?

Jesus described him as a "true Israelite, free from all deceit."

Bartholomew was the first among the Apostles to recognize Jesus
         as the Messiah, when he cried out: "Thou art the Son Of God,
         thou art the King of Israel."

Bartholomew was one of those who went fishing with St. Peter
         on the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection. The risen Savior
         appeared to them on the beach and prepared a breakfast for them.

Nothing certain is known of Bartholomew after the day of Pentecost.
         Tradition has it that he preached the Gospel in Persia,  India,
         and finally in Armenia, where he suffered a gruesome martyrdom
         by being flayed alive.

         The Spanish painter Jusep de Ribera represented Bartholomew's
         martyrdom as a mystical experience... 
                                                                      
We Celebrate St. Bartholomew's feast day on August 24.

He is the patron saint of surgeons, butchers, tanners and bookbinders.