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CHRISTIAN APOSTLE ANDREW
We have found the Messiah!
Saint Andrew was one of the fishermen of
Bethsaida, and was the brother of Saint Peter. He
became a disciple of Saint John the Baptist. When
called himself by Jesus Christ on the banks of the Jordan,
his first thought was to go in search of his brother, and he
said to Peter, “We have found the Messiah!” and brought him
to Jesus.
Andrew was very close to Jesus during His life on Earth.
Andrew was present at the Last Supper, witnessed the
Ascension and shared in the graces and gifts of the first
Pentecost.
In his later ministry, it is believed that Andrew went to the
foothills of the Caucasus mountains (present day Georgia in Russia)
and while there he preached to the Scythians as far as the Caspian
Sea. He also went to Byzantium which is present day Istanbul in
Turkey and from there, to Greece. In fact he traveled to Thrace and
Macedonia, down through the Corinthian Gulf to Patros and it was in
Patros that Andrew was martyred.
It is written that Aigeatis who was the governor of Patros became enraged at Andrew
for his preaching and ordered him to stand before the tribunal in
his attempt to do away with the Christian Faith. When Andrew
resisted the tribunal the governor ordered him crucified. Andrew
remained tied to the cross with thick tight ropes for three days and
his last words were: "Accept me, O Christ Jesus, whom I saw, whom I
love, and in whom I am; accept my spirit in peace in your eternal
realm."
St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, of Russia and
the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He is the first Apostle named
in the Gospel of St. John and was a disciple of St. John the
Baptist before Jesus' call.
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An ancient writer also speaks of the apostle's martyrdom as such:
"Andrew hung upon the cross three whole days, suffering dreadful
pain but continuing constantly to tell the people around him of the
love of Jesus Christ. The people as they listened to him began to
believe his words and asked the governor to let him be taken down
from the cross. Not liking to refuse them, he at last ordered the
ropes to be cut but when the last rope was severed, the body of the
apostle fell to the ground quite dead."
It is believed that Andrew died on the last day of November, 69 AD.
Symbol - Cross Saltire
Andrew is remembered on the 30th of November for having introduced
Jesus to the individual man. He was crucified on an X shaped cross
(cross saltire), which has become his symbol.
Walking by the sea of Galilee, Jesus
saw two brothers:
Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother,
casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
Matthew 4:18
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