Andrew the First-Called, whose patron. Andrew the First-Called - intercessor and patron of Orthodox Christians

The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called was from the city of Bethsaida, which was located on the shores of the Sea of ​​Galilee. His father's name was Jonah, and he was a fisherman. This is how he fed his family. The grown-up sons Simon and Andrey joined their father and also became fishermen, continuing the established dynasty of the family, which lived in a seaside town. However, a little later they moved and began to live in the city of Capernaum, very well known to all of us from the Gospel. This city was located on the shores of the Sea of ​​Gennesaret, and accordingly, the main industry in it was also fishing. Andrei did this here too with his father and brother Simon.

Speaking of Galilee. This is the northern part of the Holy Land, very fertile, picturesque, rich in beautiful oases. And this part of the country was inhabited by a very large Greek community in those days, who, however, were kind, conflict-free and got along well with the Jews. And the Jews there, in turn, respected the Greeks for their accommodating disposition and even learned their language so that communication with the Greeks would be pleasant for the latter. Besides, greek names penetrated the Jewish environment. A striking example- the name Andrei, given to a son in a Jewish family. The name Andrei means “courageous” in Greek.

Unlike his brother who got married, Andrei decided not to marry and keep himself virgin by seeking God. Therefore, he became a disciple of the holy prophet John the Baptist, who announced the imminent arrival of the Savior.

And when John the Baptist pointed to Jesus Christ in the Jordan, calling Him the Lamb of God, Andrei immediately understood: he would follow the Messiah and become His disciple. Which is what he did. And he became not just a disciple, but the very first disciple of Christ. And after him, Simon came to Christ, achieving an unusually strong and fiery faith and becoming the supreme apostle Peter. But the call to leave everything and follow Him had not yet come from the lips of Jesus. Although even then, at the very first meeting with Simon, Jesus said that they would begin to call him Peter. This is what the Gospel of John tells us.

But the Gospels of Matthew and Mark describe their meeting differently. They say that the Savior met Andrew and Simon on the shore of the Sea of ​​Gennesaret, when they, sitting in a boat with their father, were repairing fishing nets. Jesus, passing by, addressed them, saying: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And Andrew and Simon, leaving both the net and their father, stood up and followed Christ.

There are interpreters who claim that Jesus called all three to follow Him, but Jonah, the father of Peter and Andrew, refused. We do not have documentary evidence of this, and therefore we will leave this assumption without discussion or comment.

The call to the brothers came only after several public sermons and healings performed by Jesus, after the healing of Peter's mother-in-law and the miracle performed for the fishermen. Thanks to all this, Peter began to understand exactly who Jesus was, and was able to respond to His call in such a way that he left for others the richest catch that had ever been in his life, both the nets and the boat... We read about this from the Evangelist Luke. And these are the circumstances under which the very call of Jesus sounded:

“One day, when the people were crowding towards Him to hear the word of God, and He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, He saw two boats standing on the lake; and the fishermen, leaving them, washed their nets. Entering one boat, which was Simon's, He asked him to sail a little from the shore and, sitting down, taught the people from the boat.When he had stopped teaching, he said to Simon, “Sail out into the deep and let down your nets to catch.” Simon answered Him: Master!We toiled all night and caught nothing, but at Your word I will let down the net. Having done this, they caught a great many fish, and even their net was broken. And they gave a sign to the comrades who were on the other boat to come help them; and they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.Seeing this, Simon Peter fell at the knees of Jesus and said: “Depart from me, Lord! Because I am a sinful man." For horror seized him and all those who were with him from this fishing of fish they caught; also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's companions.And Jesus said to Simon: “Do not be afraid; From now on you will catch people.” And having pulled both boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.”

Judging by the way events unfolded, Jesus gave Andrew and Simon enough time and evidence of Himself before He called them not only to believe that He was the Savior of the world, but to follow Him, leaving everything.

So, Andrei became a faithful and devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. And it is mentioned several times in the Bible. For example, during the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, it was the Apostle Andrew who pointed to the boy who had five loaves of bread and two fish. And it was also the Apostle Andrew who pointed out Jesus to the pagans when they came to Jerusalem and sought to worship the true God. Andrei was among those to whom the Savior revealed the fate of the world, spoke about the signs of the Second Coming and predicted the future of Jerusalem.

Apostle Andrew, together with the other apostles, witnessed the Resurrection and Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. And as we know from Holy Scripture, in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, he, as well as the other apostles and Holy Mother of God, the Holy Spirit descended. It happened exactly as the Lord predicted.

The holy apostles dispersed to different cities and even countries to teach people and convert them to Christian faith baptizing in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Apostle Andrew inherited Scythia.

The Black Sea coast, the Danube, and Hellas heard the preaching of this devoted disciple of Christ. They heard, listened and were baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

But not everything was smooth on the path of the Apostle Andrew. He was driven out of the cities, beaten, and mocked. But in contrast to this, there were more and more followers of Christianity and churches arose, in which Andrew the First-Called was ordained to the priesthood and episcopate.

Further, the apostle’s path lay in Chersonesos. There he remained for a long time and preached a lot and fervently. There is even a legend that on one of the coastal stones there was a recess left from the apostle’s foot. And when sea ​​water got into it, it became healing.

The ruins of the temples that the Apostle Andrew founded have survived to this day. Some even had his name carved on the thrones.

After Chersonesus, the path of the Apostle Andrew lay to the coast of the Dnieper. And with his next sermon, a place was chosen that is now the territory of Kyiv. Having prayed all night, the next morning Apostle Andrew hoisted a cross and told his disciples that he would soon be here Big city, and the Lord will plant many churches here. And so it soon happened.

“Andrew the First-Called united the Constantinople and Russian Orthodox Churches firmly and forever”

After this, Novgorod, and then Byzantium and Thrace heard his sermon. Here, on the territory of the future Constantinople, he founded a church and ordained one of the apostles of Christ, namely Stachy, as a bishop. Thus, Andrew the First-Called united the Constantinople and Russian Orthodox Churches firmly and forever.

Every year all 12 apostles gathered in Jerusalem for Easter to celebrate it with the Most Holy Theotokos.

After one of the Easter meetings, Apostle Andrew went to Georgia, more precisely to Abkhazia, and preached where the city of Sukhumi is now located. The sermon was so passionate and sincere that great amount people were not only baptized, but also asked the Apostle Andrew to leave someone there for further preaching. Simon the Canaanite was left there, thanks to whom there were even more believers in Abkhazia. And the path of Andrew the First-Called lay to the Bosphorus.

The Bosphorus was followed by Heraclia and Macedonia. Churches were built there, people were converted and many sick people were healed. And after this, the Apostle Andrew came to Patras. This is Greek territory. There he stayed with a man named Sosius and healed him. News of this quickly spread throughout the city. This also reached the rulers of the city, who were idolaters. They began to teach the people that the Apostle Andrew was a sorcerer. And at the meeting it was decided to kill the apostle. But at night an Angel appeared to the elder of the city and told him that because he had planned evil against the apostle and did not believe in Christ, he would be weakened and not healed until he learned the truth.

And so it happened. Elder Anfipat was speechless... It was a disaster! How can you govern a city and conduct business while being mute?! With gestures, he called his friends and soldiers and begged them to find and bring the Apostle Andrew to him. They brought him in.

As soon as Andrew the First-Called touched the elder, speech returned to him, and he, falling to his knees, began to beg the Apostle to have mercy on him, who was lost and alien to the truth, to heal and bring him to reason! The Apostle, having read a prayer over him, completely healed him.

Then the elder himself and his entire family were baptized by the apostle and believed in Christ. This man not only believed, but began to accompany the holy preacher on his long journeys.

Wherever the Apostle Andrew preached, temples were destroyed, idols were crushed, and pagan books were burned. People were spiritually resurrected, emerging from the darkness of pseudo-gods and false teachings.

The last city where the Apostle Andrew came was the Greek Patras. Shortly before this, he had a dream: Jesus appeared to him and said: “Andrew! My chosen one! Take the cross and go to Patras. For you will soon leave this world to receive the crown prepared for you!”

Waking up, the Apostle Andrew, at the command of the Lord, went to Patras. Its ruler at that time was the proconsul Aegeates, who was an inveterate and stubborn pagan. The Apostle Andrew the First-Called more than once tried to convert him to the faith, turning to him with sermons and words of good news. It was all in vain. Angry, Egeat ordered the apostle to be crucified. Yes, not just like that... But to hang him on a cross in some way so that he would experience torment and suffering longer.

The warriors loyal to Egeat did just that. They did not nail the apostle to the cross, but tied him with ropes. And the cross was not an ordinary one, but in the shape of our letter X. But the apostle, even while on the cross, continued his sermon.

The night passed, the day passed, and the Apostle Andrew did not stop talking. This went on for four days. The faithful disciple of Christ taught people love for their Teacher, the commandments of God, and eternal bliss with the Savior.

People were literally illuminated by the words of his sermons. They gathered at the judgment seat where Aegeates was sitting and began to loudly curse him for condemning such a kind and innocent man to such a terrible death. martyrdom. The crafty ruler decided not to arouse the anger of the people against himself and said that now he himself would go to the cross and personally free the Apostle Andrew. But as he approached, he was stopped by the First-Called’s speech to him: “Why did you come to me? Why be hypocritical, as if you intend to take me down from the cross and repent? I'm away from you. For your heart is deceitful. And if you think that I'm not free, I'm not. I've been free for a long time. Because the Savior loves me. And I’m going to him!”

IN last time Having blessed his brothers and disciples from the cross, the Apostle Andrew gave up his spirit to the Lord. Everyone who saw him and heard the words of his sermons cried. And the bishop of the city of Patras, having personally removed the body of the Apostle Andrew from the cross, anointed it with aromas. The body of St. Andrew the First-Called was buried with great honor and sorrow.

And Egeates, still tormented by the remnants of his conscience for the unjust execution of the apostle, fell into despondency and, in a fit of madness, threw himself face down from the cliff into the abyss.

The relics of the apostle remained in Patras from the moment of burial until the year 357, when, under Emperor Constantine the Great, the relics (with the exception of the head) were transferred by the Great Martyr Artemius to Constantinople and placed in the foundation of the Church of the Holy Apostles next to the relics of the holy Evangelist Luke and the disciple of the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Timothy.

In the 6th century, under Emperor Justinian, the relics of the apostles Andrew the First-Called, Luke and Timothy were solemnly transferred to the new Church of the Holy Apostles and buried under the altar.

And when the Crusaders attacked Constantinople in the 13th century, Cardinal Peter of Capua personally transported all the relics to Italy, where they were placed in the Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called in the city of Amalfi. They are still there now. Moreover, the relics are under the throne, and a part of the head of St. Andrew the Apostle is kept in a separate reliquary.

On December 13, the Russian Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. The name Andrey has long been popular among the Russian people. Back in 1030 younger son Prince Yaroslav the Wise received the name Andrei at baptism, and 56 years later he founded the St. Andrew's Monastery in Kyiv. At the same time, the name of Andrew the First-Called was included in all Russian calendars, and the memory and glorification of the apostle began throughout the Russian land.

Emperor Peter the Great established the first and highest order in honor of the Apostle Andrew, the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, which was given to dignitaries of the state as an outstanding award.

And from these same times of Peter the Great, the Russian fleet chose and established as its banner the St. Andrew's flag - the flag white with a blue cross of the Apostle Andrew in the shape of the letter X.

From the early icons, the image of St. Andrew the First-Called was established: tousled gray hair, a short thick beard, a tunic with claves and a himation.

Klav is a sewn-on decoration in the form of a vertical strip running from the shoulder to the bottom edge of the garment. Served as a badge of honor for noble birth among Roman citizens.

A himation or cloak is a long and wide piece of fabric that was worn over a chiton. This cloak also served as a blanket for the poor during sleep. The fact that it was of significant size can be judged by the fact that the soldiers who crucified Christ and divided His clothes among themselves divided the cloak into four parts: one part for each soldier. Remember the Holy Gospel.

In order to more clearly present to you the personality of the Holy Apostle, I will quote the words - a description of Epiphanius the Monk. He said that the Apostle Andrew was not small in build, tall, long-nosed, with brows and a little hunched over.

Often on icons the Apostle Andrew is depicted with a scroll in his hand and with a cross on a long shaft.

Along with the images of the supreme apostles, the image of St. Andrew the First-Called can often be seen in the church iconostasis. He is placed, as a rule, opposite the Apostle John the Theologian.

This is how he was, the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. A huge part of his life is selfless and devoted service to Christ, the dissemination of His teachings and the fulfillment of His covenant.

If you are in the temple, look for the icon with his face and go up to it. Bow your head and ask him, the Holy Apostle, who is now in the Mountains, very close to the Savior, to pray for us, sinners, lost and unworthy... We really need prayer and intercession!

Holy Apostle Andrew, pray to God for us!

In contact with

Apostle Andrew the First-Called is the first of the twelve apostles to become a disciple. The icons depict him as a man with a small beard in red or green clothes, holding a straight or oblique cross in his hands, as well as a scroll or book. The name “St. Andrew’s cross” is associated with his name, which is found on flags and other signs. The established higher education institution bears his name Russian award- Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

Considered the patron saint of fishermen and sailors. St. Andrew's flag (an oblique blue cross on a white background) is the banner of the Navy Russian Federation. The Orthodox Church celebrates the day of remembrance of the Apostle on December 13. In churches dedicated to St. Andrew the First-Called, a festive service is held on this day. People celebrated St. Andrew's Day on November 30, this is one of the first holidays of the winter cycle.

Childhood and youth

The biography of the apostle recorded in the Bible tells that the brothers Andrew and Simon were born and raised in Bethsaida on the shores of the Sea of ​​Galilee, their father was a fisherman named Jonah. Young fishermen moved to the town of Capernaum, adjacent to their hometown, from where they sailed to the sea (which is actually a large freshwater lake) to fish.

WITH youth Andrei was looking for a way to God. He refused to marry and led a chaste life. When he began to prophesy about the imminent coming of the Messiah, the young man left home and came to the saint. Having been baptized in the Jordan, Andrei remained with John and took a place in the circle of his close disciples, listened to sermons and waited for the appearance of the Savior.

According to the version set out in the Gospel of John, Andrew’s meeting with Jesus took place on the Jordan. The Savior came to John the Baptist, who publicly called him the Lamb of God. After this, Andrew left the Baptist and became the first disciple of Christ. Later he returned to Capernaum and convinced his brother to join the apostles.

The Gospel of Matthew says that the Teacher himself found the future disciples when they were casting nets for fishing. Jesus called the brothers behind him, promising to turn them into “fishers of men.” Andrew and Simon heeded the call and left with Jesus, from whom Simon received a new name, and Andrew began to be called the First-Called.

Unlike Peter, Andrei did not stand out from the apostolic circle with loud words and harsh actions, but entered the Scriptures as an attentive person. Before Easter, when it was necessary to feed the crowd, it was Andrei who saw a boy with five loaves of bread and two fish, which were miraculously multiplied and fed the hungry people. He answered the question of the pagans who were looking for the real God in Jerusalem.

The Gospel of Mark tells that Saint Andrew was with the Teacher on the Mount of Olives and learned from him the fate of the world. Devoted student was present at the crucifixion of Christ, his Resurrection and Ascension. 50 days after the resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and they acquired superhuman abilities. Now they could heal people from deadly diseases and preach in different languages.

Christian service

The apostles cast lots, choosing the direction of their further journey. Saint Andrew had the opportunity to travel to the lands lying on the Black Sea coast. Almost everywhere the preacher brought the good news, he was greeted unfriendly. The authorities expelled the saint from the cities, the population insulted him and did not allow him to spend the night. In Sinope, the pagans subjected a persistent Christian brutal torture, but Andrei’s crippled body was healed by the will of God.

Finally, in the Thracian city of Byzantium, the stories and miracles of the saint made an impression on the people. In the future center of Eastern Christianity, the apostle found 70 disciples and founded the Church, which was headed by Bishop Stachy, ordained by Andrew the First-Called. Andrew appointed elders of the church, instructed them to perform the sacraments and instruct the people, and he himself went on.

The preacher not only healed his own body, but also raised the dead. The life of the saint mentions four unnamed boys and two men who died from various reasons. The miracle of the resurrection invariably led to the baptism of witnesses to the event. In Thessalonica they tried to kill the apostle with wild animals, but the leopard, instead of the saint, strangled the son of the proconsul Virinus. Andrew's long prayer brought the child back to life.

In Patras, the apostle raised forty drowned people who were heading to him from Macedonia. The ship with Andrei's future students capsized during a storm, but the sea carried all the bodies ashore and thanks to the power of the saint's prayer, everything ended well. This legend explains the veneration of St. Andrew as the patron saint of sailors. In the Georgian city of Atskuri, just one resurrection was enough to convert the townspeople to Christianity.

Christian historians supplemented the gospel narrative with their own versions of the preacher’s further journey. Eusebius of Caesarea wrote about Andrew's ministry in Scythia. In 1116, the monk Sylvester, by order, included in the Tale of Bygone Years the legend about the mission of St. Andrew the First-Called in Rus'.

Later the life was supplemented a detailed story about the saint’s journey from Crimea to Rome via Ladoga. According to this version, Andrei climbed up the Dnieper and, after spending the night on the picturesque hills, saw in a dream a large city with churches. The next morning he told his companions about this dream, predicting the foundation of Kyiv in that place, blessed the hills and erected a cross on one of them.

Then the apostle, tired from the journey, took a steam bath in the baths of Novgorod, which he later told his friends about in Rome. In the Middle Ages, the legend acquired details: about the erection of a wooden cross near the village of Gruzino on the banks of the Volkhov and a stone one on the island of Valaam, about the destruction of the temples of Veles and Perun and the conversion of former priests to Christianity. Be that as it may, residents of Ukraine and Russia venerate St. Andrew the First-Called as their patron.

Death

The apostle suffered martyrdom in greek city Patras around 67 of the first century. Saint Andrew lived in this city for several years, preaching and leading the Christian community. The city governor Egeat considered that the activities of Christians undermined his power, and ordered the execution of the obsessive preacher on the cross. Taking into account the wishes of the saint, who considered himself unworthy to imitate the death of Jesus, the weapon chosen was an oblique cross, later called St. Andrew’s.

Andrew the First-Called was not nailed to the cross, but his hands and feet were tied to the crossbars. For two days the apostle preached to his disciples from the cross. The listeners demanded to stop the torture, threatening a riot, and Egeates ordered the guards to untie the martyr. However, the saint was already determined to die and the knots did not succumb to the efforts of the soldiers. When the soul of the holy apostle left his body, the cross shone brightly, and then a source began to gush at this place.

The relics of Saint Andrew and the cross on which he died were first kept in Patras, but in 357, by order of the Roman Emperor Constantius II, they were transported to Constantinople and placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles. In the 9th century, the head and remains of the cross were separated from the relics and returned to Patras. After the capture of Patras by the Ottomans in 1460, Thomas Palaiologos saved the head of the saint and parts of the cross from desecration and handed over the shrine to Pope Pius II.

In 1964, the shrine returned to Patras thanks to an agreement between Pope Paul VI and representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church. The head of the saint is kept in the Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called, built in 1974 near the source. In the biggest Orthodox church Greece also installed an oblique cross-reliquary, into which are placed particles of the very cross that served as the instrument of death of the saint.

In the old Church of the Apostle Andrew, located next to the cathedral, part of the finger of the Apostle is kept. The shrine was presented to Patram in 1847 by Russian nobleman Andrei Muravyov, who received it from the monks on Mount Athos. The remaining relics are scattered and kept with honor in different European cities.

According to legend, the Greek monk Regulus, at the direction of an angel, took the relics of St. Andrew to Scotland. The village where the monk's ship landed turned into the city of St. Andrews, which became the ecclesiastical capital of the kingdom. The relics are kept in the city's cathedral, and the Apostle Andrew is revered as the patron saint of Scotland.

Another legend says that in 1208 the crusaders took the relics to the Italian city of Amalfi, where they are kept in the local Cathedral of St. Andrew, built in the rarest Norman-Byzantine style. In Germany, a sandal and a nail from the saint's cross are kept in the Trier Cathedral. Some of the relics of St. Andrew ended up in the cathedral of the Italian city of Mantua.

In Russia there is the Foundation of the Holy All-Praised Apostle Andrew the First-Called - public organization, which delivers major Christian relics to parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Foundation delivers annually from Jerusalem Holy Fire, descending from heaven during the Easter service. In 2011, the organization brought the Belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Russia.

Memory

• 1698 – Peter I established the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called
• 1754 – St. Andrew’s Church was built in Kyiv
• 1865-1940 – Church of St. Andrew the First-Called and St. in the village of Palkeala
• 1899 – the steamship “Andrey Pervozvanny” was launched, the first specially built research vessel Russian Empire
• 1906 – St Andrews Football Stadium opens in Birmingham
• 1906 – the battleship “Andrei Pervozvanny” was launched
• 1974 – The Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called was built in the city of Patras on the Peloponnese Peninsula
• 1991 – the song “Walking on Water” by Nautilus Pompilius was recorded
• 1992 – The Foundation of the Holy All-Praised Apostle Andrew the First-Called was founded
• 2003 – a monument was opened in Bataysk
• 2006 – a monument was unveiled in Moscow
• 2007 – St. Andrew’s Church in Kaliningrad was consecrated
• 2008 – raid of the charitable medical and educational Orthodox ship-church “Andrew the First-Called” through remote villages of the Novosibirsk region

At the very beginning of his ministry, Christ passed by two fishermen who were casting nets into the Lake of Galilee. He told them the most simple words: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They did just that, abandoning their entire previous life overnight. These were Simon (Peter) and Andrey. Why is Andrew called the First-Called?

The brothers were from the village of Bethsaida. The Evangelist John narrates that even before that, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist, and heard him call Jesus “the Lamb of God.” After all, this was the most important thing in His earthly ministry: not preaching, not miracles, but the sacrifice that He had to make on the cross, becoming the Lamb for the salvation of all mankind. Andrew believed in this right away, and that is why we call him today the First Called - he was the first of the apostles to be called. It was he who pointed out to Christ a boy with five loaves of bread and two fish, which were then miraculously multiplied to feed the crowd. He, together with Philip, led some Greeks to Christ (we do not know of another such case), but in general Scripture tells little about Andrew. Basically, his life is known to us from his Acts and Life.

When the apostles went to preach, they divided among themselves by lot the countries in which they were to proclaim the Good News. Andrei got the coast of Pontus Euxine, that is, the Black Sea. The southern shores (including the Crimean southern coast) were part of the then “civilized world,” that is, the Roman Empire, and in the northern Black Sea region lived barbarians who were called Scythians. How far to the north the Apostle Andrew went in his wanderings, we do not know for sure - a relatively later legend has been preserved that he climbed up the Dnieper and consecrated the place on which the city of Kyiv was later built, and even how he got to Novgorod land and was surprised by the custom of the local residents to take a steam bath in the baths. Apparently, this is a fiction after all: early sources They don’t say anything about this journey to the north, it left no traces, and it’s hard to imagine such a trip in the 1st century AD. e. pretty hard. But we can still say that the Apostle Andrew was the first who began to spread Christianity “in our direction.” It is likely that he visited Chersonesus - the future Sevastopol.

Another story is also reliable - that the Apostle Andrew visited Byzantium, the city on the site of which Constantinople was later built, founded a Christian community there and ordained Bishop Stachys, an apostle of the seventy. Life talks about many miraculous healings and even resurrections performed through prayers apostle in different cities, and about the cruel persecution to which he was subjected.

After his trip to the Black Sea region, the apostle went to the capital of the empire - Rome, where his brother Peter was. Emperor Nero then ruled in Rome, and times of persecution were coming for Christians, in which both brothers were destined to perish.

From the capital, Andrei decided to return to his previous places. On the way, he stopped in the city of Patras on the Greek Peloponnese peninsula, where he witnessed the persecution of Christians and spoke in their defense before the Roman governor named Aegeates. “You are the destroyer of the temples of the gods, Andrei, trying to draw the people into an insane sect, which the rulers of the empire decided to exterminate,” the Roman answered him. The most unacceptable thing in Christian teaching was for him the sermon about the crucifixion of the Savior, because this is painful and shameful execution was reserved for the most hardened criminals from the lower strata of society. How can you worship the Crucified One?!

In response to this, the apostle told Egeates in detail about the history of the creation of the world and the Fall, about the earthly life of the Savior and the meaning of death on the cross and called on him to share the Christian faith in order to “find his own soul.” He laughed: “Do you want to convince me that I am dead?” From his point of view, only a madman could believe in all this, and in order to challenge the apostle’s faith, he began to threaten that he would put him to death on the cross.

The price of preaching was indeed high, but the apostle was ready to pay it. Andrei was thrown into prison awaiting imminent execution, and crowds of people gathered around it, ready to riot to free the innocent sufferer. He preached to them, urging them not to hinder what was about to happen, because temporary suffering would lead him to eternal glory. And, in the end, he himself once agreed to follow the Lamb...

For the execution of the Apostle Andrew, an oblique cross in the shape of the letter X was chosen (which is why such a cross is now called St. Andrew’s), and so that his torment would be longer, Egeat ordered not to nail him, but to tie his hands and feet. “O cross, consecrated by my Lord and Master, I salute you, image of horror, you, after He died on you, became a sign of joy and love!” - with these words the apostle ascended to this cross. He hung on it for two days before his death, for two days he talked with the people standing around...

The memory of the Apostle Andrew is celebrated on November 30 according to the old style, and on December 13 according to the new style. The long-standing legend about the apostle's preaching in the lands of future Rus' gave rise to a special attitude towards him on the part of the rulers of the Russian Empire: the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called became the highest order of the state, and the flag with the St. Andrew's Cross still overshadows the Russian navy.

Troparion

As the first-called apostles/ and the supreme brother,/ the Lord of all, Andrew, pray/ to grant peace to the universe// and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion
Apostle Andrew the First-Called:

Let us praise the courage of the same-named eulogist/ and the Church’s supreme successor,/ Peter’s relative,/ before now, as in ancient times/ and now we have cried: come, thou who have found the Desired.

APOSTLE ANDREW THE FIRST CALLED

Russian Orthodox Church I have always especially revered the Apostle Andrew the First-Called as the patron and heavenly intercessor of Rus'. Sailors and fishermen turn to him with prayers. He is depicted on icons as an active person, ready to stand up for the faith of Christ.

Apostle Andrew the First-Called

Why is Apostle Andrew called the First-Called?

At that time, when the holy prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John was passing through Israel preaching, the Apostle Andrew was a fisherman together with another future disciple of Christ, John, the son of Zebedee. They followed the prophet until Jesus Christ himself found himself at the Jordan. Then John the Baptist told his disciples that He was the Messiah.

“In the morning John saw Jesus coming to himself and saying: Behold, Lamb of God, take away the sins of the world” (John 1:29)

“The next day John sees Jesus coming to him and says, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 29)

The Apostle Andrew was the first to immediately follow Christ, calling with him his comrade, John, and his brother, Simon, nicknamed Peter. Simon Peter became one of the two chief apostles most revered for their contributions to the preaching of the Gospel. For some time, the apostles returned to their occupation - fishing. But after the Lord called them again near Lake Galilee, promising to make them “fishers of men,” they finally took the path of preaching Christianity.

Patron of Russia

50 days after the Resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, after which they all went to different lands bring the Good News. The Apostle Andrew went to eastern countries: through Asia Minor, Crimea and the Black Sea region reached the places where Kyiv was later founded. He blessed these places by erecting a cross on one of the Kyiv mountains.

Tradition says that, finding himself in the area of ​​modern Kyiv, the apostle said to his disciples: “Do you see these mountains? On these mountains the grace of God will shine, there will be great city and God will raise up many churches.”

Icons of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called

The Apostle Andrew also visited the Slavic settlements on the site of Novgorod. Returning back to the Roman lands, he founded a small Byzantine village, which over time became the second Rome - Constantinople.

On a note! It was from Byzantium that Rus' received Baptism, and from the Byzantine emperors Palaiologos John III adopted the idea of ​​​​an Orthodox state.

How St. Andrew the First-Called is depicted on icons

The first icons with the face of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called are dated to the 4th-6th centuries. He is often depicted in full height with tousled gray hair, energetic.

Almost always there is a cross on the icon of the Apostle Andrew: diagonal on background or straight in the hand of a saint. Often in the temple you can see the image of the apostle blessing the believers right hand

and holding a scroll in his left.

Legends about the apostle’s visit to Russian lands and his teaching role for the Slavs gave rise to another tradition - to depict St. Andrew the First-Called with a book in his hands instead of a scroll.

Attention! Every year on December 13, on the day of remembrance of the Apostle Andrew, an icon with his face is placed on a lectern in the church so that believers can venerate it.

Why is the diagonal cross called St. Andrew's cross?

Many times the apostle suffered torment for his honest preaching, but each time he remained unharmed. The last city on his earthly journey was the city of Patras. Here, having performed many miracles, the Apostle Andrew suffered martyrdom by order of the pagan ruler Aegeates.

Icon of St. Andrew the First-Called

The saint was crucified by tying his hands and feet to the boards of a diagonal cross. The apostle’s sermon for two more days was addressed to the residents of the city, who were already demanding that Aegeates release the condemned man. As soon as the ruler decided to do this, the Apostle Andrew praised God and said: “Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit.” The cross and the apostle crucified on it were illuminated by a radiance, and at that moment the Lord took the soul of St. Andrew the First-Called.

On a note! Now a diagonal cross, shaped like the letter X, has become the symbol of the Russian Navy. The flag with a white cloth and a blue St. Andrew's Cross is also named after the apostle.

The veneration of a saint is based on his life, therefore, in front of the icon of St. Andrew the First-Called, they pray for the protection of the Motherland, for the strengthening of faith, and for intercession from demonic temptations. Throughout his earthly journey, the Apostle Andrew performed miracles of healing, so believers offer prayers at his icon for recovery from illnesses.

Troparion to the Apostle Andrew the First-Called

As the first-called apostles/ and the supremely present brother,/ the Lord of all, Andrei, pray/ to grant universal peace// and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion to Apostle Andrew the First-Called

Let us praise the courage of the namesake of the God-speaker/ and the Church of the supreme follower,/ Peter’s relative,/ just as in ancient times, and now we cry // come, you have found what you desire.

Magnification to the Apostle Andrew the First-Called

We magnify you,/ Apostle of Christ Andrew,/ and honor your illnesses and labors,/ in which you labored// in the gospel of Christ.

Prayer to Apostle Andrew the First-Called

First-called Apostle of God and our Savior Jesus Christ, supreme follower of the Church, all-honored Andrew, we glorify and magnify your apostolic labors, sweetly we remember your blessed coming to us , we honor your honorable suffering, which you endured for Christ, we kiss your sacred relics, we honor your holy memory and we believe that as the Lord lives, your soul lives as well, and you remain with Him forever in Heaven, where you loved us with the same love that you loved us, when you saw through the Holy Spirit Thou art our conversion to Christ, and not just love, but pray to God for us, all our needs are in vain in His Light. Thus we believe and thus we confess this faith in the temple, which was most gloriously created in your name, Saint Andrew, where your holy relics rest; Believers, we ask and pray to the Lord and God and our Savior Jesus Christ, that through your prayers, who always listens and accepts, He will give us everything we need for the salvation of us sinners; Yes, as you are, according to the voice of the Lord, having left your foolishness, you have unswervingly followed Him, so that everyone from us may seek not his own, but also for the building up of his neighbor and for the heavenly calling yes he thinks. Having you as a representative and prayer book for us, we trust that your prayer can accomplish much before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy One. m the Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Everyone who is connected with the sea also considers Andrew the First-Called their patron, who was a fisherman before being called to preach.

Advice! It is important to remember that you should not ask the question “what helps” the icon of St. Andrew the First-Called or any other. Saints don't really have a "specialty." There is the power of God, sincere and deep faith in which works miracles and moves mountains.

Life of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called