Saint Bartholomew Day: relics, strict folk rules and why cloudy skies worry farmers

The Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric and believers today mark the transfer of the relics of Saint Bartholomew, the apostle who in popular tradition is venerated with a mix of deep respect and awe and is sometimes called Vratoloma. His principal feast is observed on July 24 (July 11 on the old calendar), while today's commemoration recalls the miraculous rescue and relocation of his relics.

From Albanapol to Benevento: the journey of the relics

After Saint Bartholomew was crucified in the Armenian town of Albanapol, local Christians placed his body in a lead coffin. Because many healings and miracles were attributed to his tomb, the number of Christians increased rapidly and those hostile to the faith decided to throw his relics into the sea together with the coffins of four other martyrs: Papian, Lucian, Gregory and Acacius.

By divine will, however, the lead coffins did not sink but drifted to different shores: Acacius arrived at Ascalus, Gregory at Calabria, Lucian at Messina, Papian on another part of Sicily, and Bartholomew reached the Lipari Islands. There Bishop Agaton received the coffin on the shore after a heavenly revelation; the relics rested in the church there until the ninth century, when, before a Muslim incursion, they were moved to the Italian city of Benevento.

Traditional observances connected to this day are strict. In folk belief this is a day when accidents can easily happen, and people still follow several prohibitions: field work is stopped because Bartholomew is regarded as a protector of crops; cloudy weather on this day is considered a bad omen for farmers and future yields; children are warned not to climb trees so they do not ‘break their necks’; bathing in rivers is avoided; and women are advised not to carry out heavy household tasks.

Alongside the transfer of Saint Bartholomew’s relics, the church also commemorates Saint Titus today — remembered as the first bishop of Crete and a faithful companion of the apostle Paul. Born into a noble family in Crete, Titus embraced Christianity after hearing a heavenly voice and witnessing Christ’s miracles and the Resurrection in Jerusalem, dedicating his life to spreading the faith.

Photo: press material from the event