Andrew the First-Called is the intercessor and patron of Orthodox Christians. Apostle Andrew the First-Called - saints - history - catalog of articles - unconditional love

Happy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, one of the twelve apostles (Greek messenger) chosen by the Lord Himself for preaching the Gospel. Born in the city of Bethsaida in Galilee, he subsequently lived with his brother Simon (Peter) in Capernaum, on the shores of Lake Gennesaret, earning his livelihood by fishing.

From a young age, Apostle Andrew was distinguished by his prayerful striving towards God. He did not marry, but became a disciple of the holy prophet John the Baptist, who announced the Incarnation. When Saint John the Baptist pointed to Jesus Christ on the Jordan River to the holy apostles Andrew and John the Theologian, calling Him the Lamb of God, they immediately followed the Lord.

As the Gospel narrates, the holy Apostle Andrew was not only the first to follow the call of the Lord (which is why in legend ancient Church The holy Apostle Andrew was given the name “First-Called”), but he was also the first of the apostles to confess Him as the Savior (Messiah), bringing his brother Simon, the future Apostle Peter, to Christ.

From the Gospel we learn that the holy Apostle Andrew was with the Lord Jesus Christ during the miracle of the five loaves, which fed five thousand people, and spoke with the Lord in Palm Sunday,. asked Him together with the apostles Peter, James and John on the Mount of Olives about the future destruction of Jerusalem (which took place in 70 A.D.) and about the signs of the Second Coming of the Savior.

After the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, which the holy Apostle Andrew also witnessed, he returned to Jerusalem. Here on the Day of Pentecost, together with the other apostles and Holy Mother of God, the Apostle Andrew was filled with the Holy Spirit, as the Lord Himself predicted. Preaching the Word of God, the holy Apostle Andrew made several journeys, during which he returned to Jerusalem three times. He traveled through Asia Minor, Thrace, Macedonia, Scythia, and the Black Sea region (according to the tradition of the Georgian Church, Apostle Andrew preached together with Apostle Simon the Canaanite in Abkhazia, where Apostle Simon suffered martyrdom). Up the Dnieper, the Apostle Andrew rose to the location of the future Kyiv, where, as the Monk Nestor the Chronicler narrates, he erected a cross on the Kyiv mountains, turning to his disciples with the words: “Do you see these mountains? The grace of God will shine on these mountains, there will be a great city, and God will build many churches.” Moving further north, the Apostle Andrew reached the Slavic settlements on the site of the future Novgorod and planted his staff near the present village of Gruzino. From here the Apostle Andrew passed through the lands of the Varangians to Rome and again returned to Thrace. Here in a small Byzantine village, the future Constantinople, he founded Christian Church, consecrating one of the seventy apostles of Christ, Stachy, as a bishop. Thus, the name of the Holy Apostle Andrew connects the Constantinople and Russian Churches.

On the difficult path of the evangelist, the Apostle Andrew endured many sorrows and suffering from the pagans: he was expelled from cities and beaten, for example in Sinope. But the Lord protected his chosen one and, through his prayers, performed wondrous miracles.

The last city where the First-Called Apostle came and where he was destined to die a martyr’s death was the city of Patras (Patras).

The Lord demonstrated His power through His disciple in the city of Patras. Through the prayer of the apostle, the seriously ill Sosius, a noble citizen, recovered; Maximilla, the wife of the ruler of Patras, and his brother the philosopher Stratocles were healed by the laying on of apostolic hands. All this prompted the city residents to accept from the Apostle Andrew holy baptism, however, the ruler of the city, proconsul Aegeat, remained an inveterate pagan. The holy apostle with love and humility appealed to his soul, trying to reveal to him the Christian mystery eternal life, the miraculous power of the Holy Cross of the Lord. The angry Aegeates ordered the apostle to be crucified. The pagan thought to discredit the preaching of Saint Andrew if he were to put him to death on the cross, which the apostle glorified. Saint Andrew the First-Called joyfully accepted the decision of the ruler and went up to the place of execution, loudly exclaiming: “Rejoice, O Cross, sanctified by the flesh of Christ... Take me from the people, and give me to my Teacher, so that he may receive me through you, who redeemed me through you.” . To prolong the torment of the apostle, Egeat ordered not to nail the saint’s hands and feet, but to tie them to the cross. According to legend, the cross on which the holy Apostle Andrew was crucified had a special shape - it was in the form of the Latin number X (in iconography the so-called St. Andrew's Cross). For two days the apostle taught from the cross to the townspeople gathered around. The people who listened to him felt compassion for him with all their souls and demanded that the holy apostle be taken down from the cross. Frightened by popular outrage, Egeat ordered the execution to be stopped. But the holy apostle began to pray that the Lord would honor him with death on the cross. No matter how the soldiers tried to remove the Apostle Andrew, their hands did not obey them. The crucified apostle, having given praise to God, said: “Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit.” Then the bright radiance of Divine light illuminated the cross and the martyr crucified on it. When the radiance disappeared, the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called had already given up his holy soul to the Lord (+62). Maximilla, the ruler's wife, took the body of the Apostle from the cross and buried him with honor. In 357, the relics of the Holy Apostle Andrew were solemnly transferred to Constantinople and placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles next to the relics of the Holy Evangelist Luke and the disciple of the Apostle Paul - the Apostle Timothy. After the capture of Constantinople by the Crusaders, in 1208, the relics of St. Apostle Andrew were transported to Italy and placed in the cathedral church in Amalfi. Under Pope Pius II (1458), the venerable head of St. Andrew the Apostle was transferred to Rome and placed in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle.

During his lifetime, Andrew the First-Called was awarded the honor of becoming one of the first disciples of Jesus Christ. Thanks to his life purpose, believers still turn to the Saint for help and ask him for protection.

The personality of Andrew the First-Called is remarkable not only because he became one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, but also for the godly deeds he accomplished during his lifetime. Believers can pray before the image of the Saint and ask him for protection or help in life's difficulties.

History of the icon of St. Andrew the First-Called

Before starting his spiritual path, Andrei the First-Called was an ordinary fisherman, but at the same time he always knew that his mission lay elsewhere. He was concerned about many religious issues, which is why he became a disciple of John the Baptist. At that moment, many people considered him the Savior of believers, but the Baptist himself denied this. During his baptism, he saw Jesus Christ for the first time and, pointing his finger at him, said that he was the Messiah spoken of in the Bible. From that time on, Andrei and his brother Peter decided to become disciples of Jesus Christ, despite the fact that they continued to engage in fishing. One day, passing by Lake Galilee, the Son of God saw Andrew and Peter and called them to follow him. It was the first of the brothers who followed the Savior, and from then on was called the First-Called. After the Resurrection of the Son of the Lord, each of the twelve apostles was endowed with gifts, thanks to which they continued to help those in need. Like the Teacher, the Apostle Andrew died in agony on the cross in the name of faith, but Orthodox believers continue to turn to the Apostle for help and do not lose hope of receiving his help.

Description of the image of St. Andrew

There are several versions of the image of St. Andrew the First-Called. On most icons he is depicted with a wooden cross in one hand and a scroll in the other. On some icons you can see the apostle with the Bible in his hands. Icon painters least often depict him in full height, however, in some churches you can see such an icon. The image of St. Andrew the First-Called will perfectly complement your iconostasis, and thanks to strong prayer you can turn to the Saint for help at any time.

Where is the icon of the Apostle Andrew

In the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you can not only pray in front of the icon, but fall before the relics of St. Andrew the First-Called. Back in 1988, the shrine was presented to Stavropol Archbishop Anthony. After his death, his relatives decided to get rich with the help of the relic. Having kidnapped her, they came to Moscow, where they wanted to sell her for a considerable amount of money. However, the criminals were caught and the relics were returned to the temple.

You can also pray before the icon of St. Andrew in the Epiphany Cathedral, which is located in Moscow on Spartakovskaya Street, 15.

Wonderful icons of St. Andrew the First-Called can be seen in the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” located on Bolshaya Ordynka, 20.

Residents and guests of Moscow can turn to Apostle Andrew for help in the Church of the Blacherskaya Icon of the Mother of God on Kuzminskaya Street, 7.

What to pray to St. Andrew the First-Called

Andrew the First-Called became the patron saint of many countries, including Russia. During times of strife and interethnic conflicts You can turn to the apostle for help and ask him to protect the Motherland from wars and attacks from other countries.

Initially, Apostle Andrew was an ordinary fisherman, so sailors consider the Saint their protector and ask him for good luck on sea voyages.

You can ask St. Andrew the First-Called to find Orthodox faith and help with business.

Unmarried women and girls ask the apostle for a good husband and prosperity in family life.

Prayer before the icon of St. Andrew

“The first-called apostle of God, the disciple of our Savior Jesus Christ, who followed him and preached the faith of Christ. We praise you for your labors, we glorify you for your godly deeds, we remember your coming and we praise you for your suffering for the Son of God and His faith. If Jesus Christ is alive, that means your soul is still with us. We believe in you and your strength and turn to you with requests for protection and blessing. We honor your relics and your image and turn to you with sincere prayer, we hope for your help, Jesus Christ and the Lord God. Amen".

Date of celebration of the icon of St. Andrew the First-Called

The celebration of the icon takes place annually on December 13th. On this day, Orthodox Christians can visit churches and pray in front of the holy image of St. Andrew the First-Called. Turn to the Saint and do not lose hope for his help.

Sometimes dangers await us where we do not expect them, so we need the daily protection of the Lord and the Saints. Start your day with morning prayer, and then you can protect yourself from troubles. May your faith be sincere and unshakable, and don't forget to press the buttons and

The Apostle Andrew was from Galilee. This northern part of the Holy Land was distinguished by its fertility and picturesqueness, and its inhabitants were good natured and hospitable. The Galileans easily got along with the Greeks who inhabited their country in large numbers; many spoke Greek and even bore Greek names. The name Andrey is Greek and means “courageous.”

When John the Baptist began to preach on the banks of the Jordan, Andrew, together with John Zebedee (who came from the same city as Bethsaida), followed the prophet, hoping to find an answer to his spiritual questions in his teaching. Many began to think that maybe John the Baptist was the expected Messiah, but he explained to people that he was not the Messiah, but was sent only to prepare the way for Him. At that time, the Lord Jesus Christ came to John the Baptist on the Jordan for baptism, and he, pointing to the Lord, said to his disciples: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” Hearing this, Andrew and John followed Jesus. The Lord, seeing them, asked: “What do you need?” They said: “Rabbi (Teacher), where do you live?” “Come and see,” answered Jesus, and from that time they became His disciples. On the same day, the Apostle Andrew went to his brother Simon Peter and told him: “We have found the Messiah.” So Peter joined the disciples of Christ.

However, the apostles did not immediately devote themselves entirely to the apostolic title. From the Gospel we know that the brothers Andrew and Simon Peter and the brothers John and James had to return to their families for a while and take up their usual work - fishing. A few months later, the Lord, passing by Lake Galilee and seeing them fishing, said: “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their boats and nets and from that day became constant disciples of Christ.

Andrew, who followed the Lord earlier than the other apostles, received the name First-Called. He remained with Christ throughout the entire period of His public ministry. After the Resurrection of the Savior, Apostle Andrew, together with other disciples, was honored with meetings with Him and was present on the Mount of Olives when the Lord, having blessed them, ascended to Heaven.

After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles cast lots as to who should go to which country to preach the Gospel. Saint Andrew inherited the countries lying along the Black Sea coast, the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula and Scythia, i.e. the Land on which Russia was later formed. According to legend, the Apostle Andrew preached on the Tauride Peninsula, then climbed north along the Dnieper and reached the place where Kyiv subsequently arose. “Believe me,” the apostle said to his disciples, “that the grace of God will shine on these mountains: a great city will be here, the Lord will enlighten this land with holy baptism and will erect many churches here.” Then the Apostle Andrew blessed the Kyiv mountains and erected a cross on one of them, foreshadowing the adoption of faith by the future inhabitants of Rus'.

After returning to Greece, the Apostle Andrew stopped in the city of Patros (Patra), located near the Gulf of Corinth. Here, through the laying on of hands, he healed many people from illnesses, including the noble Maximilla, who believed in Christ with all her heart and became a disciple of the apostle. Since many residents of Patras believed in Christ, the local ruler Egeat was inflamed with hatred against the Apostle Andrew and sentenced Him to crucifixion. The apostle, not at all afraid of the verdict, in an inspired sermon revealed to those gathered the spiritual power and significance of the Savior’s suffering on the cross.

Governor Egeat did not believe the apostle's preaching, calling his teaching madness. Then he ordered the apostle to be crucified so that he would suffer longer. St. Andrew was tied to the cross like the letter X, without driving nails into his hands and feet, so as not to cause quick death. The unjust sentence of Egeat caused indignation among the people, nevertheless this sentence remained in force.

Hanging on the cross, the Apostle Andrew prayed incessantly. Before the separation of his soul from his body, the heavenly light shone on Andrew’s cross, and in its brilliance the apostle departed into the eternal Kingdom of God. The martyrdom of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called followed about 62 years after the Nativity of Christ.

The Russian Church, having accepted the faith from Byzantium, whose bishops are descended from the Apostle Andrew, also considers itself his successor. That is why the memory of Saint Andrew the First-Called was so solemnly revered in pre-revolutionary Russia. Emperor Peter I established the first and highest order in honor of the Apostle Andrew, which was given as a reward to dignitaries of the state. Since the times of Peter the Great, the Russian fleet has made its banner the St. Andrew's flag, a blue X-shaped cross on a white background, under the shadow of which the Russians won many victories.

APOSTLE ANDREW THE FIRST CALLED

Apostle Andrew the First-Called

Andrew was born on August 2, 8 BC in Bethsaida, a city on the shores of Lake Gennesaret.
His father, whose name was Jonah, was a fisherman, his mother took care of the house and children. In addition to Andrey, the family had three older brothers and younger sister. His brother Simon (later) was the sixth child in the family.
Andrei grew up quiet, calm, and was always very diligent; if he was entrusted with a task, there was no need to check, he would do everything exactly.
Having matured, the brothers moved to Capernaum, where they acquired their own home and continued to fish.
Even in his youth, Andrei decided to devote himself to serving God. Hearing that on the Jordan River he was preaching about the coming of the Messiah and calling for repentance, Andrei left everything and went to him. Soon the young man became John the Baptist's closest disciple. At the time of his call to discipleship, he was 31 years old.
John the Baptist sent two disciples to Jesus with the words: “ You will be his guardian angels, protect him and protect him" The second disciple whom John the Baptist sent to Jesus was named John of Zebedee. He was eight years older than Jesus.
Andrew followed Christ.
Andrew brought his brother Simon (Peter) to Jesus, saying before this: “ We have found the Messiah. Come with us».
Matthew tells how the Savior met Andrew and his brother Simon Peter on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, where the brothers were fishing by throwing nets into the water. Jesus addressed them with the words: “ Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" And they followed him, leaving their networks.
The Gospel of John says that during the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, Andrew pointed to a boy who had “five barley loaves and two fish” (John 6:8-9). He showed the Savior to the pagans who came to Jerusalem to worship the true God (John 12:20-22). According to the testimony of the Evangelist Mark, Saint Andrew was one of the four disciples of Jesus, to whom He revealed the destinies of the world on the Mount of Olives (Mark 13:3).

Saint Andrew is called the First-Called because he was called the first of the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ. To last day The Savior's earthly path was followed by his First-Called Apostle.
After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Andrei, like everyone else, driven by persecutors, left Judea for Greece.

The life of the apostle tells of several cases of his resurrection of the dead:
- in the city of Amaseev, the Apostle Andrew resurrected a boy named Egyptius, who died of a fever, at the request of the boy’s father Demetrius.
- in Nicomedia, during a funeral procession, the apostle resurrected a boy who had died because his body was torn to pieces by dogs.
- in Thessalonica, at the request of one of the residents of the city, the apostle publicly resurrected a boy who had died of strangulation.
- Proconsul Virin, enraged by the sermons of the Apostle Andrew, sent soldiers to forcefully bring the Apostle to him. One of the soldiers fell dead as soon as he drew his sword, after which the apostle resurrected him through prayer. Proconsul Virinus ordered the apostle to be tortured in the stadium, releasing a boar, a bull and a leopard into the arena in turn. But the animals did not touch the apostle, while the leopard attacked the proconsul’s son and strangled him. After a long prayer, the apostle raised his son Virin.
- also in Thessalonica the apostle resurrected little boy, who died from a snake bite.
- in the city of Patras, the Apostle Andrew preached in the house of the proconsul Lisbius. The former concubine of the proconsul Trophimus followed the teachings of the apostle and left her husband. Trophima's husband came to the proconsul's wife Calista and slandered his wife, accusing her of renewing her relationship with the proconsul. By order of Calista, Trofima was forcibly placed in a brothel for abuse, but Trofima prayed so hard that all the men who tried to touch her died, after which she resurrected one of them. The proconsul's wife went to the bathhouse with her lover, where they both died. At the request of the nurse Calista, the Apostle Andrew resurrected the deceased, after which Lisbius and his wife believed in Christ.
- in the city of Patras, during the sermon of the Apostle Andrew, a drowned man was thrown ashore by a wave, whom the Apostle resurrected with his prayer. It was Philopatra, the son of Sostratus, a resident of Macedonia, who was sailing on a ship to Patras in order to become familiar with the new teaching, but he was carried away by a wave from the ship during a storm. Philopatra asked the apostle to resurrect his friends and servants, who had also been carried away from the ship into the sea. When the Apostle Andrew prayed, another 39 people were washed ashore by the wave, and the crowd surrounding the Apostle turned to him with a request for their resurrection. The apostle asked to put the bodies in one place and with his prayer resurrected all the dead.
- in the city of Sinop, the Apostle Andrew, at the request of a woman, resurrected her husband, who was found murdered in a pit.
- in the city of Atskuri (modern Georgia), through the prayer of the apostle, a deceased person was resurrected, and this miracle prompted the residents of the city to accept Holy Baptism.
Until the age of 38 he preached and baptized in Persia and Asia Minor .

In January 39, he returned to Judea, to his hometown of Bethsaida. In the summer of the same year, the eldest son drowned. With the death of the child, Andrei closed himself off even more. In December, he decided to leave as far as possible from the country that had brought him so much suffering.
His field of service was the Black Sea coast, which in those days was called the “Euxinian Pontus” (“Hospitable Sea”). Almost everywhere where the apostle found himself, the authorities met him with cruel persecution, and he endured many sorrows and sufferings. But, reinforced by the strength of his faith, Saint Andrew “with delight” endured all disasters in the name of Christ. The First-Called Apostle had to meet especially many torments in the city of Sinope, where the pagans subjected him to brutal torture. But, as the legend says, “by the grace of his Teacher and Savior, Saint Andrew again turned out to be healthy and whole from his wounds.”
Continuing his preaching path, the apostle passed through the cities of Neokesarea and Samosata, through the country of Alana, through the lands of the Abasques and Zigs. According to legend, the pagan Zigs at first did not accept the gospel sermon of Saint Andrew and even wanted to kill the apostle, but, marveling at his meekness and asceticism, they abandoned their intention. Having passed through the Bosporan kingdom, he undertook a sea voyage to the Thracian city of Byzantium. The Apostle was the first to preach the teachings of the Savior there in the future center of Eastern Christianity, where Saint Andrew founded the Church. He ordained the Byzantine bishop Stachys, one of the 70 apostles of Christ mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:9. The saint also appointed elders of the church “so that they would teach the people and perform the sacraments”

And he goes to the lands of the future Ancient Rus'.
Andrew the First-Called visited the sites of future cities: Odessa, Kyiv, Kharkov, Moscow, Novgorod .

Since 1116, the son of Vsevolod Yaroslavich, Vladimir Monomakh, ordered the abbot of the Vydubitsky monastery Sylvester to include in the “Tale of Bygone Years” the Russian version of the legend about the apostolic mission of St. Andrew the First-Called. So, from that time on, stories about the apostle’s visit to the Russian land are certainly included in all subsequent chronicle lists.
One and a half kilometers from the village of Generalskoye near Alushta, in the basin of the Ulu-Uzen (Megapotam) river, at an altitude of 500 m above sea level in the 1st century AD. St. preached the teachings of Christ. Apostle Andrew the First-Created, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ, so called because he came to the Lord before the other apostles. Through his prayers, a holy spring began to flow near his monastery, which has survived to this day. Here many residents of Taurica converted to Christianity.
After the departure of Andrew the First-Called to the Scythian lands, a monastery was founded on the site of his monastery. And over the holy spring a temple was built, named in honor of St. Andrew the First-Called - Ai-Andriy.

Apostle Andrew is revered as the founder and heavenly patron Orthodox Church of Constantinople .

Sandal and nail of St. Andrew in Trier Cathedral

According to legend, in the 8th century the relics of the Apostle Andrew were transported to Scotland by the monk Regulus and placed in cathedral St. Andrews, a city that took its name in honor of the apostle and became the ecclesiastical capital of the Kingdom of Scotland. According to another version, they (possibly partially) were transported in the 13th century to Italy, to the city of Amalfi.
The sandal and nail of the Apostle Andrew are kept in the Trier Cathedral (Germany).

In the Orthodox Church, the memory of the Apostle (according to the Julian calendar):
- June 30(Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles);
- November 30;
V Catholic Church And Orthodox churches, adhering to Gregorian calendar: June 30 and November 30.

Paintings depicting St. Andrew were created by many great painters, including Murillo, El Greco, and Zurbaran.

Apostle Andrew the First-Called - THE FOUNDER OF "HEAVENLY RUSSIA"
Daniil Andreev wrote in the book that the High man-spirit Apostle Andrew the First-Called gave his strength to the demiurge of Russia Yarosvet (see Heavenly Russia). A still vague drawing began to appear Heavenly Russia. Church tradition considers Apostle Andrew to be the first enlightener of our distant ancestors. This is true in the sense that the Apostle Andrew at the end of the 1st century of the Christian era accepted the crown of martyrdom in the lands of Scythia. But hidden in this legend, apparently, is an echo of the intuitive knowledge that the founder of Heavenly Russia was precisely this man-spirit, who achieved enormous strength and heights in the millennium between his death and his participation in the peacemaking act of Yarosvet.

In Rus', a special cult of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called became widespread in the 1080s. The first church in honor of the Apostle Andrew was built in Kyiv in 1086 through the efforts of Grand Duke Vsevolod Yaroslavich, son of Yaroslav the Wise.

Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle

In 1698 Russian Tsar Peter I established the first (and then remained the highest) award of Russia - the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. In 1998, this order was revived in Russia.
The Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle has a sign and a star.

The badge of the order is an oblique cross made of silver with gilding, covered with blue enamel, with the image of the crucified figure of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called on it. At the ends of the cross there are golden letters “S”, “A”, “P”, “R” (Sanctus Andreas Patronus Russiae - Saint Andrew the Patron of Russia). The cross is superimposed on a relief gilded figure of a double-headed eagle, crowned with three crowns connected by a blue-enameled ribbon, and supporting the lower ends of the cross with its paws. On back side sign, on the chest of the eagle, there is a ribbon covered with white enamel. On the ribbon, in straight letters covered with black enamel, is written the motto of the order: “FOR FAITH AND LOYALTY”; under the ribbon is the number of the badge. The badge is attached to the order ribbon using an eyelet on the reverse side of the middle crown. Sign height - 86 mm, width - 60 mm.

The order's ribbon is silk, moire, blue color, width 100 mm.

The star of the order is silver, eight-pointed. In the center of the star, in a round medallion covered with red enamel, there is a gilded relief image of a double-headed eagle crowned with three crowns; on the eagle's chest is an image of a St. Andrew's (oblique) cross covered in blue enamel. Around the medallion there is a border covered with blue enamel with gilded edging. On the border, in straight gilded letters, is the motto of the order: “FOR FAITH AND LOYALTY.” At the bottom of the border there is an image of two crossed laurel branches, covered with green enamel and tied with a gilded ribbon.
The distance between the ends of the opposite rays of the star is 82 mm. On the reverse side of the star, in the lower part, is the number of the star of the order. The star is attached to clothing with a pin.

The order chain consists of 17 alternating links of three types: gilded image State emblem Russian Federation in the form of a double-headed eagle with a round shield on its chest with a horseman made in colored enamels, striking a dragon with a spear; crowned with a crown and framed with military fittings, a cartouche covered with blue enamel, in the center of which is placed the gilded applied monogram of Peter I; gold-plated rosette in the form of a radiance with a medallion covered with red enamel. A blue St. Andrew's (oblique) cross passes through the middle of the rosette, between the ends of which the letters “S”, “A”, “P”, “R” are placed. The chain links are connected by rings. The chain is made of silver with gilding using hot enamels.

For those awarded for distinction in military operations, two crossed gilded swords are added to the badge and star of the order. On the badge of the order they are located under the middle crown above the double-headed eagle. The length of each sword is 47 mm, width is 3 mm. On the star of the order they are located on the diagonal rays of the star, under its central medallion. The length of each sword is 54 mm, width is 3 mm.

The ribbon of the order on uniform is worn on a bar 12 mm high, the width of the ribbon is 45 mm. For those awarded for distinction in military operations, the ribbon additionally contains two miniature crossed gilded swords.
On the ribbon of the order in the form of a rosette is attached a miniature image of the insignia of the order made of golden-colored metal with enamel. The diameter of the socket is 16 mm.
For those awarded for distinction in military operations, on a ribbon in the form of a rosette there are additionally two miniature intersecting gilded swords, which do not extend beyond the rosette in size.

Status of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle

1. The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called is awarded to prominent government and public figures, outstanding representatives science, culture, art and various sectors of the economy for exceptional services that contribute to the prosperity, greatness and glory of Russia.
2. The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called may be awarded to heads (leaders) of foreign states for outstanding services to the Russian Federation.
3. The badge of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle is worn on the order chain or on the shoulder ribbon. When wearing the badge of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle on the shoulder ribbon, it passes over the right shoulder.
4. Wearing the badge of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called on the order chain is carried out, as a rule, on especially solemn occasions or if the recipient has the Order of St. George, 1st degree.
5. The star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle is worn on the left side of the chest and is located below the orders worn on blocks.
6. Those awarded for distinction in military operations are awarded the badge and star of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle with swords.
7. When wearing the ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle on the bar, it is located above other order ribbons.
8. When wearing the ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called in the form of a rosette, it is located on the left side of the chest above other order ribbons in the form of rosettes.
9. After the recipient of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called is awarded, the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation ensures the production of a portrait of the recipient of the order.

A portrait of the recipient of the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called is exhibited at the State Central Museum modern history Russia.

Cross of St. Andrew the First-Called

This cross gave the name to the flag.

St. Andrew's flag

St. Andrew's flag - the stern flag of ships Navy Russian Empire from 1720 to 1918, since 1992 - the naval flag of the Russian Federation and, since 2000, the banner of the Navy of the Russian Federation.

St. Andrew's flag is a white cloth with two diagonal stripes blue, forming an inclined cross called St. Andrew's; the ratio of the width of the flag to its length is one to one and a half; The width of the blue stripe is 1/10 the length of the flag.

Apostle Andrew - patron saint Ukraine, Russia, Scotland, Romania, Greece, Sicily, Amalfi; as well as sailors and fishermen .

Holy place - Russia, Primorsky Krai, village. Transformation on the shore Sea of ​​Japan (rural school). Patronizes - Primorsky and Khabarovsk region, Amur region and Sakhalin, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Japan, Korea, China, East India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Indochina (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar).

Iconostasis in Vladimir. Andrew the First-Called. 1408

Troparion to the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, tone 4

As the first-called and supremely existing brother of the Apostles, Andrei, the Lord of all, pray to grant greater peace to the universe and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion to Apostle Andrew the First-Called, tone 2

Let us praise the courage of the same-named eulogist and the Church's supreme successor, Peter's kinsman, just as in ancient times we have cried out to us: come, you who have found the Desired.

Prayer

First-Called Apostle of God and our Savior Jesus Christ, Church follower, all-praised Andrew! We glorify and magnify your apostolic works, we sweetly remember your blessed coming to us, we bless your honorable suffering, which you endured for Christ, we kiss your sacred relics, we honor your holy memory and believe that the Lord lives, and your soul lives and is with Him. forever remain in heaven, where you loved us with the same love with which you loved us, when by the Holy Spirit you saw our conversion to Christ, and not only loved, but also prayed to God for us, in vain in His light all our needs. This is how we believe and this is how we confess our faith in the temple, also in your name, Saint Andrew, gloriously created, where your holy relics rest: believing, we ask and pray to the Lord and God and our Savior Jesus Christ, that through your prayers, who ever listens and accepts, will give us everything we need for the salvation of us sinners: yes, just like you Abiy, according to the voice of the Lord, leave your wilderness, you unswervingly followed Him, and let each one of us seek not his own, but let him think about the creation of his neighbor and about the heavenly calling. Having you as an intercessor and prayer book for us, we hope that your prayer can accomplish much before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit and forever and ever. Amen.

Copyright © 2015 Unconditional love

A short biography of Andrew the First-Called describes how a simple fisherman became an apostle of Christ. Together with other witnesses of the Resurrection of his Teacher, the apostle - which means witness - fermented the entire universe with a new saving faith, unprecedented and unthinkable before. This was such an innovation that everyone who Andrei met was inflamed with either love and devotion to God, or rejection and hatred. Apostle Andrew the First-Called was the one who enlightened you and me - through his mission in modern Ukraine and Russia. Today, many places in Crimea still testify to this - even the temples that the apostle himself began to build have been preserved.

The Apostle Andrew was a Galilean, a fellow countryman of the sons of Zebedee - the apostles John and James. Having first become a disciple of John the Baptist, he was the first to respond to the Savior’s call to preach. Due to the fact that he was given the honor of being the first to follow Christ, he was nicknamed the First-Called. The future apostle follows the Messiah, preceding John and Peter.

Life of St. Andrew the First-Called

Andrew the First-Called lived in the north of the Holy Land in an area called Galilee. Since the area bordered Greece, there was a lot of communication between the two peoples. That's why Andrey got himself Greek name, translated as “Courageous.” From his youth, the future apostle retained chastity and his ardent desire to serve God; he first responded to the preaching of John the Baptist and was one of his disciples. After the baptism of Christ and the Forerunner’s instructions about Him that “behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,” the Apostle Andrew, without hesitation, followed Him. With him was John, the future beloved disciple of Christ. This is how the first four apostles appeared: Andrew called his brother, the future apostle Peter, and now just Simon, and John called James: “We have found the Messiah!”

Saint Andrew the First-Called was with Christ from the very beginning of his preaching, and until the last: he was with him during the revelation by the Lord about the destinies of the world, he told who had five loaves of bread and two fish before the miracle of multiplication. He was with Him on the Mount of Olives, where Christ ascended to heaven after His Resurrection.

According to the Savior’s promise, on the 50th day after His Ascension the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and Mother of God. The apostles, after being enlightened by grace and filled with many Holy gifts, went out to preach. In the upper room of Zion they cast lots - who should go to preach in what country. Apostle Andrew inherited our lands - the north of the Black Sea. In his wanderings, he reached the future Kyiv, where he planted a cross and predicted that the Lord would enlighten this land with Holy Baptism and erect many churches on it.

After returning to Greece, for many healings and conversions to Christianity, the Apostle Andrew shared the fate of most of the other apostles: he was crucified by the wicked pagan ruler. But he was crucified in such a way that his torment would last longer. To do this, they tied him to a cross resembling the letter X, without nailing him down, so that the saint would not die quickly. After two days of suffering, the apostle went to the Lord in prayer and those present saw how a bright light illuminated the cross with the martyr and in this radiance he betrayed his soul.

Veneration of Saint Andrew the First-Called

Apostle Andrew is considered the patron saint of the Russian Church, since it, the direct heir of Byzantium, took over the succession that the Church of Constantinople led from Andrew the First-Called.

In Russia, his memory has always been solemnly celebrated - in to a greater extent before the revolution. Peter 1 introduced special veneration - the highest award order named after him and approved the St. Andrew's flag, under which many victories were accomplished. The flag depicts an X-shaped cross - blue on a white background - on which the apostle was crucified.

The relics of Saint Andrew are kept in the Greek city of Patras, at the site of the apostle’s crucifixion. In 1974, a grandiose cathedral named after him, known throughout the world, was erected here.

Andrew the First-Called: what do they pray for?

Andrew the First-Called is the patron saint of Ukraine and Russia, as well as other countries located in the territory where he preached: these are modern Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Asia Minor. He also patronizes fishermen and sailors. St. Andrew's battle flag is known throughout the world: since the 17th century it has been national flag navy Russia. They pray to Andrew the First-Called for conversion to the holy faith, for success in the defense of the fatherland, for the well-being of sailors.

From Holy Tradition there are known cases of not just trouble-free healing, but also the resurrection of people by Andrew: like the other apostles, he repeatedly used the gift of Christ and brought people back to life. Therefore, you can pray to him for healing from illnesses.

At the site of his martyrdom, a spring filled with water that had the ability to heal. Now there is a huge cathedral named after him. Famous for its splendor, it took almost 60 years to build.

Prayer to St. Andrew the First-Called

The memory of Saint Andrew the First-Called is honored with prayer. Believers pray for healing and health.

Prayer to Saint Andrew the First-Called

First-called Apostle of God and our Savior Jesus Christ, supreme follower of the Church, all-validated Andrew! We glorify and magnify your apostolic works, we sweetly remember your blessed coming to us, we bless your honorable suffering, which you endured for Christ, we kiss your sacred relics, we honor your holy memory and believe that the Lord lives, and your soul lives, too. You remain with us forever in heaven, where you do not abandon us with your love, just as you loved our fathers, when you saw through the Holy Spirit that our land would turn to Christ. We believe, as God prayed for us; in His light all our needs are in vain. Thus we confess this faith of ours in your temple, and we pray to the Lord and God and our Savior Jesus Christ, that through your prayers he will give us everything we need for the salvation of us sinners: yes, as you abied the voice of the Lord, forsake your hesitation, you have steadily followed Him, sitsa and let each one of us seek not his own, but for the building up of his neighbor, and let him think about a higher calling. Having you as an intercessor and prayer book for us, we hope that your prayer can accomplish much before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion to St. Andrew the First-Called

As the first-called and supremely existing brother of the Apostles, Andrei, the Lord of all, pray to grant greater peace to the universe and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion to St. Andrew the First-Called

Let us praise the courage of the same-named eulogist and the Church's supreme successor, Peter's kinsman, just as in ancient times we have cried out to us: come, you who have found the Desired.

Briefly examining the biography of Andrew the First-Called, we see a courageous man, fearless in the face of inhuman trials: preaching among wild, barbaric peoples was doubly courageous if we remember the customs of wild pagans. But the love of Christ burned in his heart and, therefore, today we are enlightened by the faith of Christ. Let us appreciate the merits of our patron, and remember his life, which is so instructive for us.