On the shores of the Sea of Galilee, there were many great chapters of biblical history. It was here that the Creator spent a lot of time creating miracles, healing the hopelessly sick, and proclaiming his famous Sermon on the Mount. It is not surprising that many local residents turned into his faithful disciples, becoming the first apostles of Christ. The two brothers Peter and Andrew were given the great honor of becoming "fishers of men." Simple fishermen began to preach around the world a new teaching, becoming Apostolic Enlighteners.
History of the feast of St. Andrew
We want to tell here a little about the very first of the people who followed Teacher - Andrew the First-Called, a witness of the Resurrection and Ascension of the Lord. From this story you will understand why so widely celebrated in many countries of Europe is the Day of St. Andrew the Apostle. Even before the meeting with Christ on the Jordan River, he was fortunate enough to become a disciple of John the Baptist. After the Ascension of the Lord, he carried the Word of God to the wild lands of the Gentiles in the East. Asia Minor, Thrace, the Black Sea, the Crimea , Macedonia were inhabited in those cruel times by the peoples who met with disbelief the apostles of the new faith. Andrew the First-Called were beaten with stones, expelled from the villages, he suffered much torment from the local population. But faith in the Lord, the miracles that he showed through his faithful disciple, helped the apostle in his good work.
He completed his earthly journey in the city of Patra. The saint managed to heal the ruler's wife and brother, but he hated the apostle and ordered him crucified on the cross. The execution took place around the year 62 AD. It was an unjust sentence, which angered many of the townspeople. The cross was built in the form of the letter "X", and the convict was tied to him, not nailing him with nails to prolong the torment. Two days he preached on the cross, while indignant townspeople did not force the ruler to stop the torture. But the apostle refused mercy. He asked the Lord to give him the cross of death. The soldiers, as they did not try, could not take it off. The heavenly light shone, and in his glittering, Andrew the First-Called ascended to the Lord.
Catholics honor St. Andrew the First-Called on November 30, and the Orthodox on December 13. The difference in dates is due to the fact that in the East the church uses the Julian calendar. He is considered the patron saint of many countries - Scotland , Romania, even distant Barbados. In some countries this holiday has the status of national. A special love for the hero-apostle was always nourished in Russia. The ancient chronicles state that the First-Called One visited the ancient Chersonese and the places where Kiev soon arose. He blessed these lands, predicting that soon there will be built a beautiful city and many churches.
The relics of the Apostle Andrew are now preserved in Italy, but it is he who is considered the patron and founder of the Orthodox Church. He has long enjoyed special reverence in Russia. The first state award of the empire was the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, and on the banner of the navy the St. Andrew's flag still flies.
People believe that this saint is the patron of all men who bear the name of Andrew. In some countries of the West (Germany, Poland) from November 29 to November 30, Andreev celebrates the night. Village girls guessing on wax to find out their fate. Andrzej is the most popular name in Poland. In Russia, there are also many rituals related to divination on the night of Andrew. On the eve of the holiday, the girls were to strictly observe the fast and pray for the gift of a good betrothed.