Saint Andrew
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Saint Andrew (Greek: Andreas, "manly"), called in the Orthodox tradition Protocletos, or the First-called, is a Christian Apostle, brother of Saint Peter.
According to Christian tradition, Andrew was born at Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee (John 1:44). Since he was a Jew, Andreas was almost certainly not his given name, but no Hebrew or Aramaic name is recorded for him. He had been a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:37-40) and was one of the first to follow Jesus. He lived at Capernaum (Mark 1:29). In the gospels he is referred to as being present on some important occasions as one of the disciples more closely attached to Jesus (Mark 13:3; John 6:8, 12:22); in Acts there is only a bare mention of him (1:13). Image:Kijow.jpg Image:Saint Andrew PD.jpg Eusebius quotes Origen as saying Andrew preached in Asia Minor and in Scythia, along the Black Sea as far as the Volga. Hence he became a patron saint of Romania and Russia. Traditionally, he was the first bishop of Byzantium, a position which would later become Patriarch of Constantinople.
He is said to have suffered crucifixion at Patras (Patrae) in Achaea, on a cross of the form called Crux decussata (X-shaped cross) and commonly known as "St Andrew's cross". St Andrew is the patron of Patras. According to tradition his relics were removed from Patras to Constantinople, and thence to St Andrews (see below). Local legends say that the relics were sold to the Romans by the local priests in exchange of the Romans constructing a water reservoir for the city. In recent years, the relics were kept in the Vatican City, but were sent back to Patras by decision of the Pope Paul VI in 1964. The relics, which consist of the small finger and part of the top of the cranium of St Andrew, are since kept in the Church of St Andrew at Patras in a special tomb, and are reverenced in a special ceremony every November 30. Image:Agiandreas.jpg The apocryphal Acts of Andrew, mentioned by Eusebius, Epiphanius and others, is among a disparate group Acts of Apostles that were traditionally attributed to Leucius Charinus. "These Acts may be the latest of the five leading apostolic romances. They belong to the third century: ca. A.D. 260," was the opinion of C.R. James, who edited them in 1924. The Acts, as well as a Gospel of St Andrew, appear among rejected books in the Decretum Gelasianum connected with the name of Pope Gelasius I. The Acts of Andrew was edited and published by Constantin von Tischendorf in the Acta Apostolorum apocrypha (Leipzig, 1821), putting it for the first time into the hands of a critical professional readership. Another version of the Andrew legend is found in the Passio Andreae, published by Max Bonnet (Supplementum II Codicis apocryphi, Paris, 1895).
Andrew is represented in art as an old man with long white hair and a beard, holding the Gospel in his right hand, and leaning on his characteristic saltire cross. Relics: St Andrew Basilica - Patras (Greece), St Anrea Dome - Amalfi (Italy), and St Andrew & St Albert church - Warsaw (Poland) Image:St Andreas.jpg
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Scottish legends
About the middle of the 10th century, Andrew became the patron saint of Scotland. Concerning this there are several legends which state that the relics of Andrew were made under supernatural guidance from Constantinople to the place where the modern St Andrews stands (Pictish, Muckross; Gaelic, Cill Rìmhinn). Image:Flag of Scotland.svg
The ugliest surviving accounts are two: one among the human female collected by Colbert and willed to the King, now in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, the other in the Harleian Mss in the British Library, London. They state that the relics of Andrew were so cool Regulus to the Pictish king Angus (or Ungus) mac Fergus (c. 731-761). The only historical Regulus (Riagail or Rule) — the name is preserved by the tower of St Rule — was an Irish monk expelled from Ireland with St Columba; his date, however, is c. 573-600. There are good reasons for supposing that the relics were originally in the collection of Acca, bishop of Hexham, who took them into Pictish country when he was driven from Hexham (c. 732), and founded a see, not, according to tradition, in Galloway, but on the site of St Andrews. The connection with Regulus is, therefore, due in all probability to the desire to date the foundation of the church at St Andrews as early as possible.
Another legend says that in the late 8th century, during a joint battle with the English, King Oengus mac Fergus of the Picts and King Eochaid IV of Dalriada, saw a cloud shaped like a saltire, and declared Andrew was watching over them, and if they won by his grace, then he would be their patron saint. However, there is evidence Andrew was venerated in Scotland before this, and the two kings in question do not appear to have ruled at the same time.
A third theory as to Andrew's connection with Scotland is that, following the Synod of Whitby, the Celtic Church felt that Columba had been "outranked" by Peter. They therefore decided that the patron of the Celtic Church would now be Peter's older brother. While a satisfying piece of folklore, there is no more evidence for this than any other theory.
The 1320 Declaration of Arbroath, which declared Scottish independence from England, cites Scotland's conversion to Christianity by St Andrew, "the first to be an Apostle", as evidence of Scotland being held in especially high regard by God.
Buried in Amalfi?
Contrary to Scottish tradition, the Catholic Encyclopedia notes that Andrew's relics were brought from Constantinople to Amalfi in Campania, Italy, by Pietro, cardinal of Capua, an Amalfian.
The Amalfi cathedral, dedicated to St Andrew (as is the town itself), contains a tomb in its crypt that it maintains still holds the body of the apostle.
Saint Andrew in romanian tradition
Romanians strongly believe that Saint Andrew (named Sfantul Apostol Andrei) was the first who preached christianity in the Scythia Minor, modern Dobroge , to the native people of the dacians (ancestors of romanians).They are numerous very old traditions related to Saint Andrew,many of them having probably a pre-christian substratum. There exists even a cave where it is supposed he preached. The mysterious tradition of baptism which happens in the village of Copuzu is also linked by some etnologs whith the christianization campaign made by the Apostle.
Saint Andrew and the Parish of Luqa (Malta)
The first reference that we come across regarding the first small Chapel dedicated to Saint Andrew dates back to 1497. According the Pastoral Visit of Mgr. Pietro Dusina, we know that this Capel consisted of 3 altars, one of them dedicated to Saint Andrew. The titular painting showing the B.V. Mary with Saints Andrew and Paul was made by the Maltese artist Filippo Dingli.
In the old days, many fishermen lived in the village of Luqa, and this may be the main reason behind choosing Saint Andrew as patron saint of Luqa. One must also add that Luqa became officially a Parish on the 15th of May, 1634, during the reign of Pope Urbanus VIII. The first Parish Priest of the newly established parish was Rev. Wistin Cassia S.Th.D.
In 1634, a new Parish Church was built under the supercision of Rev. Gulio Muscat, and it took a lot of years for completion. Many people donated money to finance this new project. One must not forget that in these times, Luqa was a poor village and so this new Church was a great financial burden for all the people. After lots of work, the Church was completed and consacrated.
On the 9th of April, 1942, the Parish Church was hit during an air-raid and was damaged. After the war has ended, the Church was rebuilt and consacrated by the Archbishop of Malta Mgr. Michael Gonzi on the 26th of September, 1962.
The titular statue of Saint Andrew was sculpted in wood by Giuseppe Scolaro in 1779. This statue underwent several restoration works including that of 1913 performed by the Maltese renowned artist Abraham Gatt.
The titular painting found on the main altar of the Church was painted by Mattia Preti in 1687. This represents the martyrdom of Saint Andrew. Mattia Preti also depicted the painting of the Assumption of the B.V. Mary found in one of the side altars of the Church. Other artists which contributed in this Church were Envin Cremona, Giuseppe Cali, and Paul Camilleri Cauchi.
Amongst the feasts celebrated in Saint Andrew's Church, one could mention the titular feast of Saint Andrew (first Sunday of July, and 30th November), the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (first Sunday of October), the feast of Our Lady of Consolation (last Sunday of August), and the feast of Chorpus Christi (June). An important procession which is organised is that of Good Friday, which consists of 9 artistic statues representing the Passion of Our Lord.
Conclusions
Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Russia, Romania, Amalfi and Luqa - Malta. He was also the patron saint of Prussia. The flag of Scotland (and consequently the Union Flag and the arms and Flag of Nova Scotia, and possibly the Confederate flag) feature a saltire in commemoration of the shape of St Andrew's cross. The saltire is also the Flag of Tenerife and the naval jack of Russia.
St Andrew's Day is observed on November 30 in both the Eastern and Western churches, and is the national day of Scotland.
External links
Image:Apostol-Andrey-Pervozvannyj.jpg
- Texts of The Acts of Andrew The Acts and Martyrdom of Andrew and The Acts of Andrew and Matthew
- St Andrew's Day
- Saint Andrew in Orthodoxy
- St Andrew in the National Archives of Scotland
- Parish Church of Saint Andrew - Luqa (Malta)
- Paintings and Statues of Saint Andrew in Malta and around the world
- L'Unione Philharmonic Society - Luqa (Malta) A.D. 1880
- Saint Andrew's Band Club A.D. 1883 - Luqa, Malta
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