Patron saint of Scotland and Russia

[Colin]

St Andrew

• Celebrated on November 30th

Apostle and martyr , patron saint of Scotland and Russia , Andrew was a brother of Simon Peter. A fisherman who lived at Capernaum, he was a follower of John the Baptist.

When Jesus passed by the Sea of Galilee he saw Peter and Andrew fishing and told them: "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Andrew went to his brother Simon and said: "We have found the Messiah." So he was the first apostle and the first missionary.

The Gospels show Andrew sitting at Jesus' feet asking questions on behalf of the others, alongside Peter, James and John.

Andrew is mentioned during the feeding of the 5,000. He found the boy with the basket of bread and two fishes. He is also mentioned in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles.

He is said to have preaching in Sythia, Greece and Byzantium, before being crucified on an x-shaped cross (used on the Scottish flag of St Andrew) at Parras in Achaia in the year 60.

 

[Anhelyna]

Troparion of the Saint

As the first-called of the apostles and full brother of their leader implore the Master of all to give peace to the world and - to our souls - great mercy.

Kontakion of the Saint

Let us praise God's herald, whose name is 'courage', Peter's kinsman who leads those in the Church who follow the chief apostle, for as then to Peter so now to us he cries aloud: "We have found the One so longed for. "