Andrew the Apostle of Crete

Archbishop of Crete, hymnographer.

St. Andrew of Crete was born in Damascus in the seventh century. First a monk in Jerusalem, he later served in Constantinople and was consecrated Archbishop of Gortyna in Crete, where he shepherded his flock with wisdom and care for the poor.

He is honored above all as a hymnographer, the author of the Great Canon of repentance, which the Church sings during Great Lent as one of her most profound calls to compunction. He reposed in the first half of the eighth century and is commemorated on July 4.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Andrew the Apostle of Crete is commemorated on July 4. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on July 17 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Andreas, Andis, Andrew, Andrea

Also commemorated on July 4

• Michael Choniates of Athens

  Hierarch, Μιχαήλ Χωνιάτης

  St. Michael Choniates, Metropolitan of Athens, scholar and shepherd of the city.

• Theodore of Cyrene

  Hierarch, Θεόδωρος Κυρήνης

  Hieromartyr Theodore, Bishop of Cyrene in Libya.

• Kyprilla, Aroa and Lucia

  Holy Woman, Κυπρίλλα, Αρόα και Λουκία

  Holy Women Martyrs Kyprilla, Aroa and Lucia of Cyrene.

• Martha, Mother of Symeon the Stylite

  Holy Woman, Μάρθα

  Venerable Martha of Antioch, mother of St. Symeon Stylites the Younger.

• Andrei Rublev the Iconographer

  Venerable, Ανδρέας Ρουμπλιώφ

  Venerable Andrei Rublev, monk and iconographer of the Holy Trinity Lavra.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.