TRANSLATION OF THE RELICS OF ST BARTHOLOMEW

August 25th/September 7th
TRANSLATION OF THE RELICS OF ST BARTHOLOMEW
HOLY APOSTLE TITUS, FIRST BISHOP

Troparion of St Bartholomew Tone 5
O wise Bartholomew,/ thy holy relics appeared like the dawn/ shining in the East and coming to the West./ They shine with the gifts/ of the Daystar of life/ and dispel the darkness of diseases/ from those who approach them with faith and hope.

Troparion of St Titus Tone 5
Thou didst receive thy call from heaven,/ to learn about sacred things/ and of thy Master's coming to earth in the flesh./ Thou didst witness His deeds and wast filled with the light of grace./ As companion of Paul and preacher of the Faith/ thou didst enlighten Crete with the word of Godliness,/ O blessed Apostle Titus.

Kontakion of St Bartholomew Tone 4
Thou didst appear as a great sun to the world/ with miracles and rays of teachings./ Thou dost guide to the light/ all who venerate thee,/ O Bartholomew, Apostle of the Lord.

Kontakion of St Titus Tone 2
Thou wast a companion of Paul, O Apostle Titus,/ and with him thou didst preach the word of grace and reveal glorious mysteries./ Wherefore we cry to thee:/ Unceasingly pray for us all.

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THE HOLY APOSTLE BARTHOLOMEW

Today commemorates the translation of the relics of St. Bartholomew, although his main feast is celebrated on June 11. When this great apostle was crucified in Albanopolis [Derbend] in Armenia, Christians removed his body and honorably buried it in a lead sarcophagus. When numerous miracles occurred over the grave of the apostle, especially healings of the sick, because of which the number of Christians increased, the pagans then took the sarcophagus containing the relics of Bartholomew and tossed it into the sea. At the same time they also threw four more sarcophagi into the sea containing the relics of four martyrs: Papian, Lucian, Gregory and Acacius. However, by God's providence, the sarcophagi did not sink but were carried by the current and floated: Acacius to the town of Askalon, Gregory to Calabria, Lucian to Messina, Papian to the other side of Sicily and Bartholomew to the island of Lipara. By some mysterious revelation Agathon, the Bishop of Lipara, learned of the approaching relics of the holy Apostle Bartholomew to Lipara. Agathon, with the clergy and people, came to the shore to receive the sarcophagus with great joy. On that occasion, many healings of the sick occurred from the relics of the holy apostle. The relics were placed in the church of St. Bartholomew and there they reposed until the time of Theophilus the Iconoclast about the year 839 A.D. and since the Muslims threatened Lipara, the relics of the apostle were translated to Benevento. Thus, the Lord glorified His apostle by miracles both during his life and after his death.

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THE APOSTLE TITUS

Titus was one of the Seventy [Apostles]. He was born in Crete and educated in Greek philosophy and poetry. Following a dream, he began reading the Prophet Isaiah and doubted all the wisdom of the Hellenes. Hearing about Christ the Lord, Titus traveled to Jerusalem with other Cretans and personally heard the words of the Savior and witnessed His mighty works. His young heart completely adhered to Christ. Later, he was baptized by the Apostle Paul whom he served as a son to a father in the work of evangelization. Paul loved Titus so much that, at times, he referred to him as son: "To Titus, my beloved son" (Titus 1:4) and, at times, brother: "I urged Titus to go to you and I sent the other brother with him" (2 Corinthians 12:18). Titus traveled extensively with the great apostle of the people [St. Paul] and was appointed by him as the bishop of Crete. Titus was present at the suffering and death of Paul in Rome and honorably buried the body of his teacher and spiritual father. After that, Titus returned to Crete where, with great success, he baptized the pagans and prudently governed the Church of God until old age. Titus entered into rest at the age of ninety-four.

Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich

The Prologue from Ohrid