Top 10 Amazing Facts about Andrew the Apostle

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Andrew the Apostle

He is also known as St Andrew the apostle and he was one of the disciples of Jesus and a brother of saint peter. He is a patron saint of Scotland and Russia.

The name Andrew is of a Greek origin meaning manly or brave. He was a fisherman by profession, and when Jesus called them from the shores to be his disciples he told them he will make them fishers of men.

Subsequently, in the gospels, Andrew is referred to as being present on some important occasions as one of the disciples more closely attached to Jesus. Here are the top amazing Facts about Andrew the Apostle.

1. He was the first apostle called by Jesus

The_Calling_of_Saints_Peter_and_Andrew photo by Caravaggio—Wikimedia

 Andrew was a fisherman and a disciple of John the Baptist before he became an apostle of Jesus.

He understood Jesus was the messiah upon his first meeting and shared the news with his brothers as stated in this verse: Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah.” (John 1:40–41).

Andrew is mentioned in numerous gospel stories, one of the early miracles of Jesus was performed at Andrews’s house which he shared with his brother.

In the gospel of John, the story of the multiplication of loaves of bread and fish sheds light on Andrews’s presence, it was Andrew who informed Jesus of the boy with five barley loaves and fish.

2. He has stood as Scotland’s patron saint

In Scotland st, Andrew has been celebrated for many centuries, with feasts being held in his honor.

Legend tells the relics of St Andrew were brought by divine guidance from Constantinople to the town of modern-day st Andrew, and its church has become a center for evangelism.

The Scot appealed to the pope in 1320, using the name of the apostle Andrew by showing the relationship he had with saint peter as a brother who was the founder of the church. The Scots needed protection against the attempts of English kings who were trying to conquer them.

The pope was moved by the letter addressed to him, showing the relation of Saint Andrew to saint peter.

 3. There is a festival of St Andrews annually celebrated

St Andrew’s Day – 30th November Photo by Dave Conner —Wikimedia

St Andrews day is celebrated every year on the 30th of November in honor of the apostle Andrew. He is the patron of many things such as fisherman and Amalfi, Italy.

The day dedicated to st Andrew was established in the mid-17th century surprisingly it dint originate in Scotland nor any other region that revived him.

A wealthy Scottish set up the Andrews society of Charleston in South Carolina, USA, and celebrated st Andrew on 30^th November, the anniversary of his death.

It was later popularized by the st Andrew society of the state of New York from 1756 onward and to the rest of the world.

4. ST Andrew cathedral has become a pilgrimage site for the saint

Altars_of_Saint_Andrew_the_Apostle_Church photo by FBenjr123 —Wikimedia

The magnificent cathedral of Saint Andrew was built to house the relics of the apostle Andrew making the town a focal point of pilgrimage.

According to traditional beliefs, St rule got a vision where he was instructed by angels to bring the relics of Saint Andrew to the furthest corner of the earth but he got shipwrecked in kilrymont.

 The relics present at the church include a small finger, a skull of Andrew, and the cross on which he was martyred making the church a medieval pilgrimage site.

The church fell into ruins in the 16^th century since the catholic church was outlawed during the Scottish reformation but was later reformed.

 5. The remains of The Apostle Andrew were frequently moved

As a disciple of Jesus, he preached far and wide as Jesus had wished. After his death, his remains were moved from Patras to Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul.

Another narration suggests a Greek monk names Regulus brought some of the remains of the apostle to Scotland. In 1208, cardinal peter of cuppa returned the remains to his native Amalfi.

6. He was crucified on an X-shaped cross

Martyrdom of Saint Andrew art by Guido Reni—Wikimedia

St Andrew’s efforts to introduce Christian doctrine to Greece in the first century were met with hostility from local authorities. He was sentenced to die on the cross after refusing to acknowledge pagan gods.

It’s said Andrew preached from his martyr’s station for two days to an increasingly sympathetic crowd.

His execution was hastened due to public demands and designated executioners tried to untie him but their hands were mysteriously paralyzed.

He believed he was unworthy to share in the same fate that befell Jesus, thus he requested an X-shaped cross.

7. Apostle Andrew’s cross is used in Scotland’s flag

St Andrews was commonly depicted in Scottish iconography even before the national flag was created to honor him.

From 1180 onward he was featured on official seals of the guards of Scotland who ruled over the country in the absence of a king during the Scottish Wars of independence in 1286.

Years later the parliament of Scotland insisted Scottish soldiers display st Andrew sign crows known as saltire as a form of distinguishing them.

8. Apostle Andrew was an inspiration to the medieval Scots army

When king Angus II led his army of Picts and Scots against Athelstan’s Saxons, modern-day Lothian.

The king was outnumbered and felt hopeless then he made a prayer to saint Andrew for help, vowing to make him a patron saint of Scotland if his army emerges victorious against his enemies.

On the day of the battle, he spotted clouds in a saltire shape in the sky. The king perceived this as a miraculous sign from heaven and their deep faith made them victorious. The king honored his vow following his win.

 9. The Apostolos Andrea monastery was built to honor him

Cyprus_north_-_Apostolos_Andreas_Monastery photo by Dickelbers —Wikimedia 

The monastery of apostle Andrea was built as a dedication to Andrew. Crypto tradition state that a ship transporting the apostle went off course and landed on the ground

Upon coming shore Andrew is said to have struck the rocks with his staff and off gusted a spring of healing waters. The fortified monastery was built to remember the gracious deeds of the saint.

10. Saint Andrew was a patron of several countries

St Andrews’s blessings were felt far and wide and for that reason, he was a patron saint of many places, including 6 countries – Amalfi, Pienza, and Sarzana (Italy), Luqa (Malta), Parañaque (Philippines), and Patras (Greece).