Sacred scripture doesn't tell us much about St. Andrew, but this is what we do know:In John's Gospel, we learn that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist but became interested in learning more about Jesus when John pointed him out. He was a fisherman, the brother of Simon, who was later called Peter, and it was Andrew who told Simon Peter about Jesus.
Andrew often seems to serve an important role as a bridge to make things happen: (again in John) leading Simon to Jesus, identifying the boy in the crowd with the loaves and fish that would then feed the multitudes, and interceding for curious Greeks who wanted an audience with Jesus in Jerusalem. After Jesus' death and resurrection, we have no clear proof where Andrew went to preach the Good News (Scottish legend claims he was there, thus "St. Andrew's Cross" on the national flag, and he is the patron saint of Scotland). He probably conducted most of his ministry in what is now Greece and Turkey. He was martyred on an "X" shaped cross, tied to the wood rather than nailed, so that his suffering would last longer. It is said that during the 2 days on the cross, he continued to preach the Gospel.
St. Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen, Scotland, Greece and Russia, as well as of our parish!
St. Andrew, the first apostle, pray for us!
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