Life
The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called was born in Bethsaida of Galilee, in the family of the fisherman Jonah, as the brother of Simon Peter. He worked as a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, but his heart burned for the coming of the Messiah, and he left his nets to join the disciples of Saint John the Forerunner on the banks of the Jordan. When John, catching sight of Christ, uttered the words “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” Andrew followed the Lord without hesitation — and thus became the first apostle whom Christ called as His disciple. For this reason the Church gives him the title “First-Called.”
Andrew immediately brought his brother Simon to Christ, saying to him: “We have found the Messiah, which is called Christ.” Thus it was through Andrew that Peter also came into the circle of the apostles. Throughout Christ’s earthly ministry Andrew faithfully followed the Teacher, heard His teachings, and was a witness to His Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. After the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, by the drawing of lots he received as his area of preaching the northern shores of the Black Sea — Byzantium, Scythia, the territories of present-day Romania, Ukraine, southern Russia, Georgia, and Asia Minor.
The tradition of the Church testifies that Andrew traveled nearly immeasurable distances: through Pontus, Cappadocia, Bithynia, and reaching the Dnieper River, where, according to the historical account of the chronicler Nestor, he blessed the hills on which Kyiv would later arise, prophesying the growth of the Christian faith among the Slavic peoples. In his travels he also established the Bishopric of Byzantium, appointing as its first bishop his disciple Stachys — which is why Constantinople and the Orthodox world revere Andrew as their founding apostle.
His apostolic journey ended in the city of Patras in Achaia (Greece), where the ruler Aegeates ordered his crucifixion. Andrew himself asked to be fastened to a cross in the shape of the letter X, considering himself unworthy to suffer in the same manner as the Lord. For three days he hung on the cross, preaching to the assembled people about Christ, and peacefully reposed around 70. His relics were transferred several times through the centuries; the head of Saint Andrew was returned to Patras in 1964, where it is kept to this day.
Saint Andrew is the heavenly patron of Russia, Scotland, Romania, and Greece. His cross — the Cross of Andrew — is woven into the flags and coats of arms of these nations as a lasting sign of apostolic faith.
Tropar (Tone 4)
As a namesake of valor and brother of Peter by nature, O Andrew, be thou their first-called among the apostles and foremost disciple of the Teacher; for as thou didst stand before thine own brother and cry out: “I have found the Lord!” — so also cry out to Him on our behalf, O zealous one.
Kontakion (Tone 2)
Let us praise the valiant Andrew, the kinsman of Peter by name, the first-called of the apostles: for as he once persuaded his own brother, so also now he intercedes with Christ God for us.
About the Feast
Andrejdan — the feast dedicated to the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called — is celebrated on December 13 by the New (Gregorian) calendar, corresponding to November 30 by the Old (Julian) calendar. It falls in the midst of the Nativity Fast, so the feast table is entirely meatless.
Andrejdan is a particularly popular patron feast in Vojvodina, Banat, Bačka, and Srem — regions where Serbs have for centuries preserved the tradition that it was the Apostle Andrew himself who first enlightened their ancestors in the northern Slavic territories. In many Banat villages Andrejdan is also called “Andrejine,” and the families who celebrate this feast are often from families that trace their lineage to the old border-guard regions of the Habsburg Monarchy, where the connection to the apostolic tradition was especially alive.
Traditional foods on Andrejdan: the slava bread and koljivo occupy the central place on the table. Since it is a day within the Nativity Fast, all dishes are meatless — Lenten stuffed cabbage, prebranac, Lenten fish (often carp or catfish from the Danube and Tisa rivers), boiled potatoes with onion and oil, salads of pickled cabbage, beets, and horseradish, dried fruit, walnuts, honey cakes, and unleavened Lenten pastries. The host lights the slava candle, and the priest blesses the bread and koljivo with a commemoration of Saint Andrew, praying to him for the flourishing of the home, the preservation of the faith, and a blessing upon the children.
In the folk tradition of Vojvodina it is believed that on Andrejdan “winter enters through all the doors” — from this day winter reigns until Saint Sava, and families who celebrate Andrejdan open the winter season of fasting and awaiting Christ in the cave of Bethlehem.