Andrew the First-Called

Holy First-Called Apostle Andrew, patron of Greece, Russia, and Scotland.

St. Andrew, the First-Called of the Apostles, was a fisherman of Bethsaida and first a disciple of St. John the Forerunner. When the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew followed Him at once and brought his brother Simon Peter to the Lord. After Pentecost, according to tradition, he preached the Gospel around the Black Sea and in Greece, and was martyred at Patras on a cross in the form of an X.

He is honored as patron of Greece and of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, whose first bishop tradition names him. His feast is kept on November 30.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Andrew the First-Called is commemorated on November 30. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on December 13 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Andreas, Andis, Andrew, Andrea, Andrei, Andre, Andres, Andy, Andriana, Andrianna

Also commemorated on November 30

• Frumentius of Ethiopia

  Hierarch, Φρουμέντιος Αβησσυνίας

  Saint Frumentius, Archbishop of Abyssinia, enlightener of Ethiopia.

• Alexander of Methymna

  Hierarch, Αλέξανδρος Μηθύμνης

  Saint Alexander, Bishop of Methymna on Lesbos.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.