Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, the Protocletos, the First Called

Today, Holy Mother Church liturgically commemorates the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, the Protocletos, the First Called. St. Andrew is claimed as the Patron and Founder of the Church of Constantinople and who also happens to be my Patron Saint. =)

The older brother of St. Peter and a disciple of John the Baptist, St. Andrew, upon seeing the Christ pointed out by John as the Lamb of God and acknowledging Him as the long foretold Messiah, brought others to faith in Him. Notable among these is St. Peter, Vicar of Christ and the First Bishop of Rome and Pope.

I am striving bear the name of St. Andrew worthily and, in imitation of him, to acknowledge and serve Christ as the Messiah and to bring others to faith in Him. I take that as my mission.

Pray for me that the Lord will give me the grace and strength to emulate St. Andrew.

Here’s the Greek Orthodox prayers for the Feast of St. Andrew. The prayers of the Latin Church to St. Andrew follow.

St. Andrew, the First Called Apostle.

November 30.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

As first of the Apostles to be called, O Andrew, brother of him (Peter) who was foremost, beseech the Master of all to grant the world peace and our souls great mercy.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
Let us praise the namesake of bravery, the divinely eloquent and first to be called of the Disciples of Christ, the kinsman of Peter. As he called out to him in days of old, so now he calls to us, "Come, we have found Him for whom we yearned."

On the Life of Saint Andrew
This Saint was from Bethsaida of Galilee; he was the son of Jonas and the brother of Peter, the chief of the Apostles. He had first been a disciple of John the Baptist; afterwards, on hearing the Baptist's witness concerning Jesus, when he pointed Him out with his finger and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1.29,36), he straightway followed Christ, and became His first disciple; wherefore he is called the First-called of the Apostles. After the Ascension of the Saviour, he preached in various lands; and having suffered many things for His Name's sake, he died in Patras of Achaia, where he was crucified on a cross in the shape of an "X," the first letter of "Christ" in Greek; this cross is also the symbol of Saint Andrew.

Prayer to St. Andrew, the First Called Apostle

Lord Jesus, Saint Andrew was the first Apostle. He enthusiastically led other people to You, starting with his brother, Saint Peter. Saint John Chrysostom said in a homily about these saints, "To support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, loving kinship and sincere affection." I ask Saint Andrew to pray for my relationships with family members. Jesus, You came to divide us from our families if they do not follow You. Bring conversion to the hearts of disbelieving loved ones so that we may become united in the Faith and bonded in our love for You. Saint Andrew, pray for us. Amen.