Bishop Bartolomeu (Gondarovski Nicolae) was born on October 27, 1927, in the village of Neceaevka, Belgorod Region.
He pursued theological studies at the Moscow Theological Seminary and Academy. In March 1954, he was tonsured a monk; on April 18 he was ordained a hierodeacon, and on November 30 a hieromonk. Between 1959 and 1960, he taught Liturgical Typikon at the Moscow Theological Seminary. From 1961 to 1963, he served as head of the Russian Orthodox Mission in Jerusalem.
On May 25, 1963, he was consecrated Bishop of Uglich, serving as vicar of the Diocese of Yaroslavl. From May 29, 1963, he was Bishop of Saratov and Volgograd; from December 22, 1964, Bishop of Vienna and Austria; and from July 7, 1966, Bishop of Tula and Belev. Beginning March 20, 1969, he served as Bishop of Chișinău and Moldova. During his three-year tenure, he carried out numerous pastoral visits to parishes throughout Moldova, organized the regular performance of liturgical practices for priests at the episcopal cathedral, and emphasized the importance of preaching and the level of preparation of the clergy.
From October 11, 1972, he served as Bishop of Tashkent and Central Asia, and on October 9, 1973, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop. From 1987, he served as Archbishop of Orel and Bryansk. He was awarded the Order of Venerable Sergius, Second Class, and the Order of Saint Prince Vladimir, Second Class.
On September 4, 1987, Archbishop Bartolomeu reposed in the Lord and was buried in the Central Cemetery of the city of Orel.