Feast of Saint Andrew

The Feast of Saint Andrew

November 30^th

Called - Protoklete – First Called

The Apostle Andrew travelled to Greece where he preached and established the Church. The Eastern Church traces their Apostolic Succession back to Andrew.

Andrew was sentenced to death by crucifixion. Insisting that he was not worthy to be crucified on the traditional type cross upon which Jesus died, Andrew was crucified on an “X” shaped cross. The “X” shaped cross thereafter became known as the Saint Andrew's Cross.

According to ancient tradition that dates back to the Sixth Century, Andrew’s last words, known as The Passion of Andrew, were -

"Hail, O Cross, inaugurated by the Body of Christ and adorned with his limbs as though they were precious pearls. Before the Lord mounted you, you inspired an earthly fear. Now, instead, endowed with heavenly love, you are accepted as a gift. Believers know of the great joy that you possess, and of the multitude of gifts you have prepared. I come to you, therefore, confident and joyful, so that you too may receive me exultant as a disciple of the One who was hung upon you.... O blessed Cross, clothed in the majesty and beauty of the Lord's limbs!... Take me, carry me far from men, and restore me to my Teacher, so that, through you, the one who redeemed me by you, may receive me. Hail, O Cross; yes, hail indeed!".

Historically, at LAUDS (and the other Hours) of the Feast of Saint Andrew

[Translated into English from the Breviarium Monasticum, and published in 1925 as The Monastic Diurnal or Day Hours of the Monastic Breviary] 

The Collect (opening prayer) 

We humbly entreat thy Majesty, O Lord:

That as the blessed Apostle Andrew stood forth as a preacher and ruler in thy Church,

So he may be our constant intercessor before Thee.

Through Christ our Lord.

The following words reverberated from the Choir

Hail, precious Cross,

Receive the disciple of him who hanged on thee,

 My Master Christ.

Blessed Andrew prayed, saying:

O Lord, King of eternal glory,

Sustain me as I hang upon the tree.

Andrew, the servant of Jesus Christ,

A worthy Apostle of God,

Was Peter’s brother,

And partaker of his passion.

Maxililla, beloved of Jesus Christ,

Took the Apostle’s body

And to a place of honor

Buried it with sweet-smelling spices.

Thou hast overwhelmed in Hell, O Lord

Them that did persecute the righteous:

And thou wast his leader

On the wood of the Cross.

Chapter – Romans 10:10-11

BRETHREN:

With the heart man believeth unto righteousness;

And with the mouth confession

Is made unto salvation.

For the scripture saith,

Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.