The feast is called Vartolomey or also Varti-Lomi (in association of storm and hail).
That
day the feast of the apostles St.Bartholomew and St.Varnava (Barnabas)
is celebrated. Saint Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles, and
had Galilee as his homeland. He preached in Arabia and Persia, and
especially in India, bringing to them the Gospel written by Saint
Matthew. According to legends, he ended his life by being
crucified, or by being flayed alive, in Albanopolis (Urbanopolis) of
Armenia. Saint Barnabas, one of the Seventy, was from Cyprus, and a
fellow disciple with Paul. Saint Barnabas had a field, which he sold
and brought the money to the Apostles. Before the conversion of Saul to
Paul, it was Barnabas who was the leader of the Seventy Apostles, the
first in preaching and chief spokesman. Saint Barnabas preached the
Gospel in many places, traveled together with Paul, and finally was
stoned to death by the Jews in his native Cyprus. People
celebrate Vartolomey as the second of the four hail men – the brothers
German, Vartolomey, Liseh and Vido. People respect this day so no hail
falls during the summer and there are no snow storms in winter.
According to the traditional rituals, St. Bartholomew is the lord of
the heavenly elements – hails and thunders. Therefore, no one is
supposed to work on that day, women should not wash their heads
(otherwise they would become scatter-brained and stupid, and would
suffer from headache or dizziness). Cattle should not be put into yoke
either. |
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