Andrew, apostle and martyr, brother of Simon Peter. A fisherman by trade,
his home was at Capernaum. He was a disciple of John the Baptist before
becoming an apostle of Christ.
In the Gospel lists of apostles his name is among the first four. It is not
certain where he preached the Gospel, where he died or even where he is
buried. The most ancient written accounts links him with Greece; Scythe and
Epirus both claimed him as their apostle, while Patras in Achaia claims to
be the place where he was crucified and preached to the people for two days
before he died.
There was a notable cult in the West. His feast was universal from the 6th
century; churches were dedicated to him from early times in Italy and
France, as well as Anglo-Saxon England, where Rochester was the earliest of
637 medieval dedications.
Ancient legends include that of a translation of his relics from Patras to
Scotland by Rule in the 8th century. He stopped at a place in Fife now
called St. Andrews and built a church there, which became a centre for
evangelisation and eventually pilgrimage. The story, which survives in
several forms, is the reason for the choice of Andrew as patron of Scotland.
After the fall of Constantinople in 1204, the Crusaders took his body to
Amalfi. The despot Thomas Palaeologus gave Andrew's head to the pope in
1461. It became one of the most treasured possessions of St. Peter's until
Paul VI returned it to Constantinople.
Andrews feast day is 30th November.
Written and contributed by Phillip Lloyd.
