Bartholomew, Apostle

Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Caesarea's Ecclesiastical History claims that following the ascension he traveled in mission to India where he left behind a Gospel of Matthew. Along with Jude, Bartholomew is said to have brought Christianity to Armenia -- other traditions have him in mission in Mesopotamia, Parthia, Ethiopia etc. Bartholomew was supposedly martyred in Armenia. A popular version holds that he was flayed and crucified upside down. He was executed for allegedly converting the Armenian King Polymius to Christianity.