On December 13, the church honors the memory of the saint who first responded to the call of Christ to be “fishers of men” – the Apostle Andrew.
There is little information about him in the Gospels, more information in his Life and Acts, but they are written much later, in the 3rd century.
We know that Andrew was a fisherman, but also a disciple of John the Baptist. He wholeheartedly accepted the Forerunner’s teaching of repentance and looked forward to the appearance of the Messiah. Andrew was rewarded for his faith. He witnessed the baptism of Christ and saw with his own eyes how the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended from heaven. He personally heard the voice of God proclaiming that Christ was His Son.
Andrew shared the news with his brother, Simon, whom Jesus would later call Peter. The brothers readily left their boats and nets and set out with Jesus to carry light throughout Judea.
Andrew was present at the execution of Christ and was among the apostles on the day of Pentecost. After the Holy Spirit descended on him, the apostle became possessed of the gifts of healing and resurrection from the dead. His most significant resurrection was the return to life of 40 drowned sailors. Since then, Andrew the First-Called became considered the patron saint of seafarers.
Although legend says that St. Andrew was the first to bring the Good News to the places where Kiev and Novgorod later arose, there is no documentary evidence for this. But in Russia they always believed that the apostle put an end to the Kiev hills and predicted Novgorod to be the spiritual center of the northern lands. No wonder the church of Andrew the First-Called was among the first churches of Russia. Yaroslav the Wise baptized his son Vsevolod, with the Christian name Andrew.
The popularity of the saint in Russia was so great that the first Russian award, established by Peter the Great, was dedicated to Andrew the First-Called. His order was an honorary insignia for all who deserved it.
The flag of the new Russian fleet was a white cloth with a cross in the form of the letter X.
It was on this cross, according to life, the apostle was executed.
It happened in the Greek city of Patras. The saint spent 2 days on the cross, not for a moment ceasing to bear witness to the Son of God. Fearing riots, the ruler ordered the removal of the apostle from the cross, but Andrew prayed for the death of the cross. A shining cloud covered him, and when it disappeared, the mortal shell of the saint was lifeless, and the spirit rushed to its creator.
The relics of the saint were venerated in Patras, and after the emperor Constantine made Constantinople the capital, they were transferred there.
The Crusaders who sacked Constantinople in 1208 took many shrines with them. Among them are the relics of the Apostle Andrew. They were put in a church in Amalfi. In 1458, his head was transferred to St. Peter’s Cathedral, in Rome.
On the day dedicated to Andrew the First-Called, it is customary to pray for soldiers, the protection of their native land, for sailors and their safe navigation, for health, for the healing of the sick. This is a day for family gathering, fast lunch and socializing.
Go to the temple and pray before the icon of the saint. Peace and grace will come upon you.
The prayers will be heard.
Charity foundHoly Land.
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