St. Andrew

Andrew at a Glance

•Son of Jonah.

•Born in Bethsaida.

•Brother of Simon Peter.

•Brought Peter to Christ - proclaiming “We have found the Messiah.”

•“Follow me, I will make you a fisher of men. Immediately, they left their nets and followed Him.”

•Byzantine Church refers to Andrew as ‘Protokletos’ (the first called).

Small T Tradition: The Death of Andrew

Tradition holds that St. Andrew’s death apparently resulted not so much from the official policy of the Roman Government, as it was from the anger of the local governor of Patras, Greece - Aegeates. It seems the wife of the governor was deathly ill. Pronounced incurable by her doctors and aware of St. Andrew’s reputation as a healer, she sent for him; she was healed immediately and became a Christian. So did her husband’s brother, Stratocles. Governor Aegeates wanted no part of the new religion, and considered the conversion of his wife an alienation of affection. Sometime in the fall of 69 A.D., he arrested St. Andrew and imprisoned him. As had happened with St. Peter two years earlier, St. Andrew’s jailers had to be changed constantly, since they were converted almost as soon as they were assigned to the holy man. Finally, on November 28, Governor Aegeates gave orders to crucify St. Andrew.

St. Andrew was hauled to the seashore and tied to a Cross (“X”). Tradition holds, St. Andrew proclaimed these words upon receiving his cross, “Hail, O Cross, inaugurated by the body of Christ and adorned with His limbs as though they were precious pearls. Before the Lord mounted you, you inspired an earthly fear, now, instead, endowed with heavenly love, you are accepted as gift.” He gave instructions that the condemned man not be nailed, so that St. Andrew could die a slow, lingering death of exposure and exhaustion. The Governor even expressed the hope that St. Andrew would be gradually torn apart by the wild dogs that foraged about the seashore. The dogs never had a chance, because the news of St. Andrew’s crucifixion attracted a huge crowd which surrounded the cross day and night. Despite his torments, the aging apostle, who was at least in his sixties, managed to summon the strength to talk about the things of God. A huge crowd gathered around the gubernatorial mansion demanding that St. Andrew be freed. Finally, the Governor agreed at least to speak to St. Andrew, whom he had never met before. The Governor confronted the holy man on his cross by the seashore; yet, St. Andrew would not hear of his release. “Let no one release me,” stated St. Andrew, “For there has been allotted me this destiny to depart out of the body and live with the Lord, with whom I am even being crucified.” The governor attempted to release St. Andrew, and as he was being cut down, he murmured; “Jesus Christ, whom I have seen, whom I have, whom I love, in whom I am and will be, receive me in peace into Thy Eternal Tabernacle, that through my exodus the many who are akin in nature to me may enter to Thee and rest in Thy Majesty.” St. Andrew died on November 30, 69 A.D.