·        The name Andrew means manhood, strong, or valour.

 

·        Born in Bethsaida of Galilee.

 

·        Brother of Simon Peter.  Both were fishermen and, at the beginning of Jesus’ public life, shared the same house at Capharnaum.

 

·        Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist, whose testimony first led him and John the Evangelist to follow Jesus. 

 

·        Andrew introduced Jesus to his brother, Peter.  Soon after they left their lives behind them to follow Jesus and Andrew was chosen to be on of the Twelve.

 

·        Like the majority of the Twelve, Andrew is not named in the Acts except in the list of the Apostles where he is always numbered among the first four. 

 

·        On the occasion of the feeding of the five thousand, it was Andrew who said, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fishes:  but what are these among so many?” (John vi, 8, 9).

 

·        When the Apostles went forth to preach to the Nations, Andrew is believed to have taken an important part.  Unfortunately there is no certainty as to the extent of his work or the definite places he went, although it is believed that he was a Missionary in Asia Minor, Greece, and possibly areas in modern Russian and Poland. 

 

·        Historians generally agree that he was crucified by order of the Roman Governor at Patrae in Achaia, and that he was bound, not nailed, to the cross, in order to prolong his sufferings.  He was martyred on a saltire (x-shaped) cross, and he is said to have preached from it for two days.  His death took place on November 30, A.D. 60. and both the Latin and Greek Churches keep this date as his feast.

 

·        Is the Patron Saint of fisherman, Russia and Scotland.

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