St. Andrew the Apostle

St. Andrew the Apostle - Iconographer: Yoan from Gabrovo

Today's his day!  Bless him; he was Peter's brother...and his name, Andrew, comes from the Greek Andreas, apparently popular in the Hellenized Middle East of the time.*  It was Andrew who recognized Jesus as Messiah, introduced Him to Peter, and with Philip, told Jesus about the Greeks seeking Him.  He is believed to have facilitated the "Feeding of the Five Thousand" by bringing to Jesus the little boy and his lunch of bread and fish (Gospel of John 6:8).

After the Pentecost, it is recorded that Andrew travelled widely, preaching the Gospel -- possibly as far as Kiev!  He is a patron saint of Ukraine, Romania and Russia.*

It is believed he was martyred by crucifixion at the city of Patras in Achaea.  Centuries later (possibly the middle 900s), he became the patron saint of Scotland, when -- according to legend -- some of his relics were brought there from Constantinople by some sort of divine intervention, to the site of what is now the city of St. Andrew's.  The flag of Scotland is St. Andrew's Cross, reflecting the nature of the cross on which he was martyred*:

St. Andrew's Cross - Scotland's Flag

Almighty God,

who gave your apostle Andrew

grace to believe in his heart

and to confess with his lips that Jesus is Lord,

touch our lips and our hearts

that faith may burn within us,

and we may share in the witness of your Church

to the whole human family;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

AMEN.

(Collect for St. Andrew's Day, Book of Alternative Services, p. 430)

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*Online resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_the_Apostle