The life and Akathist of Saint Apostle Andrew,

whose Holy Relics are worshiped in our church

Because we are Christians, we bring glory, honor, and worship to all saints, since they, living well and keeping God’s commandments, have become close friends of His. For, being confined to the kingdom of heaven and being near to Him, he now prays for our salvation and protection.

But especially to the Holy Apostles, all mankind under the sun owes them, all the time and every day, as well as all the time, to thank them, to glorify them, to praise and to commemorate them with joy, and with godliness; and their days of remembrance shall be to celebrate them with all the people, with psalms, and with songs of praise and thanksgiving, and honor them. Because they, by the whole world, rejecting Christ and our God sticking together, ministering to Him with all their boldness and soul, have become followers of the holy and divine lives, as well as the feasts of Christ on earth and , being witnesses of the wonders of His works, they also followed His passions, crucifixion, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven.

And with power from above they were clothed with tongues of fire, and became rich, becoming fishermen, apostles, and hunters of fish, hunters of men, as the Lord himself had promised them, saying, Come after Me and I will make you man hunters. Then like horses, as the prophet Avacum said, through all the world he sees the sun ran and turned the nations from wandering and from the worship of idols to the knowledge of the true God, brought through each country, city , village and place, enduring battles, torments, bloodshed and death every day.

About this, listen to Paul, saying:

In many hostilities, in bitter beatings, in prison, in prison, in the perils of death many times; from the Jews five times as many as forty hits without one I took. Three times with a rod I was beaten, once with stones I was splashed, three times the ship broke with me, one night and one day I was deep; in journeys many times, in the perils in the rivers, in the perils of the robbers, in the perils of those of a nation, in the perils of the nations, in the perils of the cities, in the perils of the deserts, in the perils of the sea, in the perils of the sea. liars brothers. In weariness and in hardship, in many looks, in hunger and thirst; in posts often, in the cold and without clothes “.

And these for what? To turn people from deception to truth and from the darkness of worship to idols, in the light of God’s knowledge. Thus, they were like their teacher, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who shed His blood on the Cross for our salvation.

Therefore, for this we owe it to the Holy Apostles, to honor them and to praise them continually, according to their power, because only God is able to honor them according to their worthiness. And he will still honor them especially when he will sit in judgment on the seat of His glory. Then they will also sit with Christ on twelve chairs, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

One of these, and first of all called, is the Holy, glorious and praised Apostle Andrew, whose life and feast we want to tell her by power and by dignity, leaving her to the powerful and perfect in good words and deeds.

The glorious Apostle Andrew, the first called, was born in the city called Bethsaida, which is near the Sea of ​​Galilee, in the border of Zebulun, from which the tribe was also drawn. The fortress was small and insignificant before, and after its rise, his brother, the industrious Peter, and Philip, became famous and glorified. And it was called Hebrews Bethsaida, which is translated “the house of the hunters.” It was so called because it was the homeland of the Holy Apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip, who hunted fish until they learned the truth, which is Christ.

So from an unholy homeland like this, the apostles both arose, having a poor father, Jonah, who, being poor, taught his sons his craft. For Jonah was a fisherman, and he caught fish in the Sea of ​​Galilee and other outlets that were in Galilee. Then the Apostle Peter learned the craft of his father, and afterwards took the daughter of Aristobulus, the brother of the Apostle Varnava, as a woman. And the god Andrei, rejecting all the worldly turmoil, chose to spend in virginity, needing to marry.

Hearing that John, the Forerunner of the Lord, was walking through the places near the Jordan and preaching faith and repentance, Andrei went to him and made him a disciple, that he wished to ascend with his mind to higher understandings. That is why he did not want, like the others, to spend in the troubles and worries of the world. For hearing the words of the prophet, and having his soul cleansed from sin, he knew at once that the teaching of the Baptist is of the commandment of God, and that it is for salvation. For this he followed with all his heart and with all his mind he taught his teaching to John.

So, the Almighty God, wishing to exalt the mind of his disciples in more thought and not believe that he is Christ, but a servant servant, Christ-servant, and preacher of Christ, took with him two of his disciples, and the Apostle Andrew. another, who says some would be the speaker of God John, and went with them to the place where Christ was then. And when he saw him, he said, Behold the Lamb of God, he that taketh away the sins of the world.

Hearing these two disciples John’s testimony for Christ, they left John and followed Christ. And Jesus Christ turning and seeing the disciples following him, saith unto the disciples, What seek ye? And they said to Him: Ravi – who is the teacher, – where are you going? And Jesus said unto them, Come and see. So they came and saw where the party was and stayed that day, because it was the tenth hour. But do you see the good will of St. Andrew the Apostle? For, after he had found out the treasure, he did not want to have it alone, but he also called his brother Peter to win it.

After this he found his brother Peter, who was called Simon at that time, and said to him, I have found the Messiah, who is being interpreted by Christ. He did not say, “I found a Messiah, but the Messiah.” What is he going to say? He showed St. Andrew that he knew the One whom the prophets preached. “That is Jesus.” For this he did not say that “I found a messiah”, that is to say a certain Christ, because “the Messiah” and “Christ” were also called the emperor of the Jews, because they anointed with myrrh, which was mixed with the table (oil). But he said unto him, I have found the Messiah, that is, the Christ, whom the prophets had spoken before.

Andrei, having said this word to the Apostle Peter, his brother, took him and led him to Christ. And when Christ saw Peter, he said unto him, Thou art Simon the son of Jonah; you will be called Chifa, who is known as Peter. These things were done at that time, and in this way both these brothers spoke to Christ, then went again to Saint John the Baptist. And in those days Herod the king seized John the Baptist, and shut him up in prison, because he had rebuked him, because he had taken his wife Irodiada, the wife of his brother Philip. Where he was imprisoned as a prophet and more than a prophet, he knew that he would be killed by Herod, and his disciples would remain in the darkness of the Old Law again.

So, so that it would not happen for His disciples to remain without knowing fully that Christ is God, St. John the Baptist chose two of His disciples who were higher in wisdom. That is, on the glory and honor of Andrew and another I mentioned earlier and sent him to Christ to ask: Are you the one for whom the prophets wrote that he is to live, or will we wait for another?

But Jesus Christ, Who knew the hidden things of men, did not completely hide those for Himself, nor did He reveal to them His divinity, but He wanted to show them the truth through things, and not through words, as they alone from things. to learn and to understand that He, Who does these wonders, is the One who will live, for the salvation of men.

So Christ answered them: Go and tell John that the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead rise, the lame walk, the poor are well clothed. How? I mean, I hear good words: Blessed are the poor with the Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and happy is he who will not lie in me. But what is the understanding of the word? Didn’t John even know that he was Christ, whom the prophets had prophesied before and preached to him? For this reason did He send His disciples to ask Christ who He is? How could he not have known Christ who he is, when John himself the Forerunner, still in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth, knew Him? But even Christ, in His response, did not want to prove to John about Himself that He is Christ, because He knew Christ, much more than He knew Christ.

But for this he answered them thus, and did wonders before them, that they might both know the disciples, that is, Andrew and John the Word of God, that the great difference between Christ and John is great. For John did no miracles at all, and Christ did countless things. He was also right that at that time they counted John the Baptist higher, because he was of the archdiocese and was born of the father of the prophet, of Zechariah, and himself was a prophet, and that from the stern mother, by promise, he was born. And Christ looked like a poor man and a poor son, and no disciples until then.

As John was imprisoned, Christ left Jerusalem and went to the lake of Ghenizaret. There he found Andrew and Peter in the boat, cracking their nails. So, Christ did not impute anything to them, nor speak any harsh words to them, because they also left Him and their teacher, John, shut up in prison – for God being, he knew that poverty had forced them to work – but he said unto them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they, leaving their infants, followed Christ. And, as Matthew the Evangelist says, they soon followed Jesus; that is, they did not wait, nor delayed, nor said, “Let us sharpen our nails, and then we will come after You.” They didn’t say so. But immediately, leaving their husbands, ship, house, nation, friends, relatives and acquaintances, they followed Christ. And they still had the testimony of the Baptist, who had told them of Christ, and kept in mind the miracles which they had seen, being done by him.

So leaving the Apostle Andrew, with all his soul, he followed Christ, before the other apostles, being called to the teaching of Christ, for which he was called “first called.” For Andrei understood earlier from the prophecy that he really is the One who will live. Especially, after he saw unhealed diseases healed, the blind seeing, the lame walking, the devils going out, the dead rising out of the pit, with more ease than sleep, only by the command and word of Christ; as well as the other wonders of Christ, which it is superfluous to tell in detail.

After seeing this apostle, he became much more confident and strengthened in the good thinking he had for Christ. For, as a wise and wise man, the Apostle Andrew considered that, although the prophets of old had done some miracles, they did not do them with the authority of Christ, but with prayer and prayer to God. And Christ with your words I say unto you, and with other words like these, he did his wonders.

Seeing the apostle Christ put His hand on the blind man’s eye and see, the commandment of the devils and as some smoke perished, the storms of the seas overwhelmed them; then he walked on the sea like on land and other miracles he performed, he knew and believed firmly that Christ is God. These, judging them by the glorious Apostle Andrew, were an indefinite disciple of Christ. He still had a great deal of courage and a fiery desire to die for His name.

After Christ left the cities and went into the wilderness, there were no crowds of His people and disciples left there either, but they followed Him to obey His teaching. And being desolate the place and having no food to eat so many people, the goddess Andrew went and said to Christ – that they had only five barley loaves of gnats, and few fish – how would they reach such a crowd? Then Christ blessed the five loaves, and ate all the people, as at five thousand, besides women and children, and they were filled and took twelve baskets full of broken pieces.

This miracle can be trusted by one of the Divine and Holy Gospel of Saint John, the speaker of God, in the sixth chapter. And from another story of the Holy Gospel, one can understand the friendship and the boldness of the Apostle Andrew to Christ, his teacher. For John the Word of God himself tells in chapter 12, that during the Passover feast the Jews went to feasts and elves, to see the church and to do their usual prayer, because they were also of the Jewish and Jewish descent, but were born and raised by other nations, whose language they had learned.

They were frightened by the news of Christ, for he had recently done the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection and had greeted the people with pillars and had made many other signs before. For this reason they had come in a meditation of God, and, desiring to see him, they came to Philip, praying and saying to him, Lord, we want to see Christ. And he, having not so much boldness toward Christ, and having given Andrew honor as a first-born, went to him, and told him the cause. And Andrew, taking Philip with him, went to Christ, and they both spoke to him the words of the Hellenes, from which we can know the love and boldness he had for Christ.

So, leaving the others as he worked with Christ, until He came to His passion willingly, let us shorten our word.

And after the Lord had suffered for us, He was crucified, died, buried, and rose from the grave with the power of His divinity, and again gathered together His disciples and friends, and appeared to them in the mount of Galilee, and said to them: As you go, learn all the nations. And when the Holy Spirit sent unto them, and enlightened them to speak in all the tongues of the Gentiles that were under heaven, then the Apostles, being assembled, cast lots among the Gentiles, that they might know what part of the earth each one should take. of the giants, for preaching.

So, to the other apostles, the lot fell for preaching to other parts of the earth. And the Apostle Andrei fell the lot to preach in all Bithynia – and Bithynia is called the whole place in the middle, from Scutari, which is over the channel of Constantinople to the east, which was formerly called Chrysopolis, until Nicomidia and as far as Nicaea. And not only in Bithynia, but also in the Black Sea, to the east, with all the places and both parts of the Black Sea, as far as Camupolin. Besides these were Chalcedon and Byzantium, which is the city of Constantine and all of Thrace, from Constantinople to Cavala, which, in the Acts of the Apostles, is called Neapolis, and others is called Christupolis. In his lot was Thessalonica and Thessaly, as far as Farsala and Elada and as far as Zitunion and Ahaia, then from Zitunion to Paleapatra.

All these cities, which are within the borders of these mentioned countries, have fallen to the fate of the Apostle Andrew, in order to go and learn their knowledge of God. And not only these, but also other nations that lie between Thrace and Macedonia, up to the great river Istrus, which is now called the Danube, and these also fell to Saint Andrew the Apostle. All these nations were dust before him, in which he sowed the seed of the word of God.

So, the first apostle Saint Andrew did not seek the multitude of people, places, countries and cities, neither did he weaken his soul, nor did he prepare for the length and multitude of journeys, nor did he hinder himself with the necessities that stood before him, nor was he afraid of the barbarity, savagery, and cruelty of tyrants and idol worshipers. But he had in his mind the commandment of Christ, Who said, Behold, I send you forth, as sheep in the midst of wolves, lest ye be afraid of them that kill the body; for the soul cannot kill him.

Having in himself great love for Christ, his teacher, being full of faith and earnestly hoping in His undying power, he eagerly set out on a journey, starting from Jerusalem, to go to each of the places I said. He took with him some of the disciples of the seventy apostles, whom he considered skillful in preaching.

So many are the journeys and roads of this apostle, but many through cities and villages, in which, sowing the word of knowledge of God, he has reaped the ears of good faith. But it is impossible to describe in detail all the travels, dangers and troubles that he suffered in each city and village. But in order not to deprive the listeners of the useful stories, about Saint Andrew, we will tell the most famous and greatest, for their love.

Walking the apostle of Christ from place to place, he went to a city on the right side of the Black Sea, when we floated to Cafa, which is called the Amison and is far from the Synopi, as at one hundred twenty-eight miles, and half. There were many lost and unbelieving people in St. Andrew’s. Some included the Hellenic wandering, and others the Jewish one. But among these special wanderings and paganisms being the friends, they also had a kindness, the love of strangers, that is, to receive foreign people and to celebrate hiking.

So, going to the holy place, he lodged at the house of a Jew, and counted how and in what way he would attract so many stray people and catch them in his teaching and preaching room. So, counting the saint, he got up one morning and went to the Jewish synagogue, where they were gathered according to their custom. There the Jews asked him who he was, where he was from and what kind of preaching he was.

The saint, beginning his preaching of Christ, taught them from the books of Moses, but also from the prophets. From all this he has proved that Christ is the same which the prophets have spoken before; Who, for the salvation of men, came into the world, bringing witnesses and the Ruler himself before and as he learned. These, and so forth, after he had spoken unto the gods, and after he had written true faith in their souls, and after he had brought the teeth in his brood, in this way he was made a hunter of men, according to the word of his Lord, whom when he called to his disciples, he said, Come after me, and I will make you hunters for men.

When the Jews heard the word of the Apostle, they immediately returned to the Lord and, repenting, were baptized and became Christians, instead of Jews; slaves of Christ, instead of losing them. After that, how many sick people were bringing them before the apostle, and each healing of any disease would have been included. And the apostle was made there, not only a doctor of souls, but he was a healer of many kinds of diseases. Then he built churches and ordained priests from the Jews who had believed.

Going from there, he went to Trapezunda and there, also, teaching and baptizing many, even priests, and ordaining; after that he went to Lazichia. And Trapezunda and Lazichia are cities and nations on the east side of the Black Sea, and as many as walked in those parts, I know these cities. But there again, like the apostle and countless Jews and elites bringing to Christ, he set out to go to Jerusalem. On the one hand, to celebrate the feast of the approaching Passover, and on the other, to meet his brother Peter. And especially he wanted to see the Apostle Paul, from whom he had heard that he returned from Jewish law and came to preach the apostles and that he is also an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles.

So he went and fulfilled his desire for God. After this he returned with Saint John the Word of God to the city of Ephesus, which was in the fate (care) of John.

But when the apostle was there, he saw a discovery from God to go to Bithynia, to teach the people of his fate. To this end, he set out and went to the city of Nicaea, which was then called Elicori, and was uncircumcised. Later Caesar Traian built it and the towers have it, and in order to conquer it, he named it Nicaea.

But even the sweater that is today near her, and is called Ascania, was not so clear and clean as it is seen today. That, as the chronographs write, later the earthquakes filled with water and that the Sea of ​​Pontus was made and cleared as it is now.

In this city, walking the Holy Apostle Andrew and seeing a large number of people, Jews and Elines, he thought to do wonders first, to entice them to return from their wandering. Because the simplest, simplest people trust themselves when they see miracles, only with the word. For this reason, the apostle often made the dead speak, and at other times he healed the sick. Still other wonders of many kinds doing, he became doctor without payment to the sick. Still bullets, great and frightening beasts, who had locked themselves in that place, only with the iron staff which he wore, the top of which had a pointed cross, threw them out and killed them.

And the heads of the gods of the liars, of the Elines, of Aphrodite, and of Artemis, he broke off all the foundations. And how many of the elites did not believe in the apostle’s teaching, being filled with evil spirits, they leaped and leaped, the meats ate and countless others were afflicted, receiving worthy work for their unbelief. And the disciple of Christ, Andrew, who came to save the sinners, did not allow them to finally perish in the darkness of wandering, but rescuing the devils from the devil’s work, and healed their souls and with the light of faith in God.

So, two years after he was confined there in the city of Nice and ordained priests by the people he believed, he went to Nicomidia, where there were a large number of people, but who were completely obscured by the deceit of Hellenism. The apostle of Christ also did the same. Then he baptized many of the elines, from there he went to Chalcedon and from Chalcedon he walked all over Propontida, that is, all over the place from the scout of Constantinople to Neocastra. From there he went to Pontoiraclia, and from there he went to the fortress Amastrida, which was very large, and was in the eastern part of the Black Sea.

But in these cities the Holy Apostle Andrew did not walk as we briefly tell. But in every city where he walked, there were many temptations and rebellions, but with the help of Christ he overcame them all, for Christ was his defender, and made all adversaries evil. For with the madness of the preaching he saw, he conquered the wise men of Elin.

After these things, departing from Amastrida, he went to another city called Sinopi, where it is told in some old sayings, as if the Holy Apostle Peter had come to see his brother. Even the Christians in Sinopi show up to this day two marble chairs, which are in great honor and godliness, and say that the Apostles, Peter and Andrew were sitting there and teaching the people.

Another icon of that time is also there in Sinopi, having the image of the Apostle Andrew, who performs countless wonders even to this day, in the glory of Christ and in honor of the apostle, to see Christians not only in the time of the apostle’s life. they have done wonders, but even after death they can do such wonders with the power of Christ their teacher.

But another story tells us that the Apostle Matthias, one of the twelve apostles, who together with the eleven apostles, instead of the seller Judas, had happened to come before to the Synopos, wanting to go to Cafa to preach; and the sinopians seized him and put him in prison.

So when the Apostle Andrew went there and heard that the Apostle Matthias was locked up in the prison, he prayed and, with the sign of the Holy Cross, as soon as the bonds were broken, the prison opened and the Apostle Matthias left the prison, and together with the other and the others bound. . And the Jewish synopians had faith, but they were cruel and savage with their souls, so that only with their faces and faces they could see that they were not beasts.

So hearing that the Apostle broke the bonds and opened the dungeon, all gathered together, they wanted to see the house where he was staying. Some, looking at him with cruelty and contempt, dragged him to his feet, others pulled him by the hands and rolled him through the dust. Others, with their teeth like wild beasts, would bite him, with wood they would beat him, with stones they would hit him, and each one would grab. Later, considering that he died of the great torment, they threw him out of the city to the trash. The apostle suffered these things, following Christ, his teacher.

But Christ did not overlook His apostle, but that night, showing Himself and giving him boldness, He raised him up in good health. And not only this, but also a finger of his that one of those eaters had bitten, made him healthy. Afterwards, blessing him, teaching him, and exhorting him not to mock at his preaching, he ascended to heaven. And in the morning the apostle got up and went well into the Synopos, without even a sign of wounds, so that he could say that he came from a feast, rejoicing.

This wonder after the synopens saw it, marveling at the patience of the holy man above all, and at the other by the miraculous work of Christ, as in one night he made him healthy; falling down, they returned from their wandering, and repented, fell at the feet of the Holy Apostle, asking for forgiveness. Afterwards, the holy man, teaching the word of truth to the Gentiles, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, made them the servants of Christ instead of the servants of the devil. Still other innumerable wonders did the holy apostle in that city, in the name of Christ, of whom ye hear a wonderful miracle for the entrustment of others.

A certain woman had a son, a born one, whom an enemy man killed then became unseen and was not found, and the dead man was thrown down the road. From this the apostle was notified, and went to the place where he was dead. And being merciful to the mother of the murdered man, and wanting to draw the people to more faith, he raised him up by prayer and gave him alive to his mother. This wonder after the synopens saw it, all together with women and children, believed in Christ. Then the apostle ordained there the priests, the most wise of those who believed, and so having enlightened most of the synophenes with St. Baptism and made them a holy people of Christ and truly worthy of his flock, he went a second time to the city of Amison and from there he went again to Trapezunda.

So, baptizing the other people who had remained unbelievers from the first proclamation from there, he went to the city of the Neococity and there, also, the word of good faith, sowing many and to the knowledge of the true God, turning to God and turning it on. , went from Neocceareaea to another city called Samosata. And in this city, at that time, people immersed in Hellenic vanity were living, and in the deception outside the world, they were very covered. And because of the deceit they were not returned to the faith of Christ, because for the craft of their philosophy, every one kept from speaking with the Gentiles.

And the god Apostle Andrew, through the preaching of the proclamation, as a spider’s web broke the rattles of the rites and showed them that their wisdom is empty and they have no knowledge of even a small child. Thus, in a few days, with the words and the miracles, the fisherman facing the teaching of the philosophers and the works of signs departing from their souls, and returning to their good faith, went to Jerusalem and met with the other apostles, to make a bribe, how to celebrate the feast of Passover.

And since the apostles were gathering in Jerusalem and making allowances for the things that had happened in those times, one can know from the Acts of the Apostles, which was written by the god Luke the Evangelist. For he writes there in Acts, chapter 15, and says: And the apostles and the priests were gathered together to inquire concerning this word and the rest. And when the feast was ended, they took with them the apostle Matthias and Thaddeus, who were in Jerusalem for the same reason, and returned to the city of Edessa, which is called Horasan to-day and is to the east in the borders of Mesopotamia. .

So, a few days after spending the apostle Andrew, Matthias and Thaddeus let them preach in those parts, and he returned to the parts of the Black Sea those from the east. He first went to the land of the Alanites, where, preaching the Gospel of the Gift and many turning to faith in Christ, he moved to Avazgi and, entering Sevastopol, the city there, taught and preached the mystery of Christ and countless crowds of people. to the knowledge of God.

But neither the salvation of the Zachenians nor the Vosporans did not mourn, but it also went to them, since the Zachenians found them utterly ungodly, hating disobedience to their savagery, wanted to go away from their enemies, for they were unbelievers. the seed of the word of God, and unworthy of the holy faith, and the good submission of the praisers praising it, went to the giants. The Vosporans are called all those who live in the Cafa Strait, for this Cafa we hear is not a city, but a place in the image and likeness of the Mass.

He spent a long time in Vosporani, because he was very submissive and easy-going to receive the apostle’s teaching, in which there were also icons of saints painted with wax and proving a craftsmanship, with an annoyance. followed with great wisdom by hands made, which overcame all the craft.

So, spending a long time in Vosporani, from there St. Andrew went to Cafa, which is called Herson, a bright country with many people, though in a healthy faith, not easily shattered, but to other welcoming teachings. There, entering with wisdom and preaching the word of righteous faith and doing wonders, he returned to the knowledge of God.

In this way, by selling the Apostle to the Kersonians and, as talking fish, bringing them to Christ, after God’s proclamation he moved from here to the innermost parts of Russia and reached the Dnieper River; and in the Kiev Mountains, he stayed, where he stayed for one night. The next day, rising from his sleep, he said to the disciples who were with him, “Do you see these mountains? Believe me that over them the gift of God will shine and a great city will be made here, and many churches will come. raise up God and he will enlighten with the Holy Baptism all the land of Russia “.

And rising on those mountains, he blessed and set up a cross, before announcing the people’s trust from his apostolic seat, which was based in Byzantium and went also through the innermost parts of Russia, to where he is now. the great fortress of Novgorod.

From there he returned to the sea again to the fortress of Sinopi. And again learning the word of the Lord there, and turning the other men also, which remained unpunished from the first preaching, and the faithful being strengthened in the faith, he appointed the bishop of that place to an apostle of the seventy, by name Philologist.

From there he came to Byzantium, which at that time was not in the state it is seen today, but included only a small part – the royal palace – but later, Constantine shone it and brought it. o in the state in which he is now seen and, by his name, he called it “the Fortress of Constantine”.

In this city, this great apostle went, and he did likewise. For with his words and his miracles he taught them, and with the holy Baptism enlightening them, he also turned the Byzantines into the light of the knowledge of God, making them sons of light by receiving the faith. Yet another wonderful church has erected in the name of the Most Holy Mother of God in the middle of the city, placing her guarding and defending the righteous faith of those emperors of the last times. Then, ordaining the bishop to St. Stach, one of the seventy apostles, he went to Iraclia Thrace, which is far from Constantinople, westward, two days’ journey.

So in this city like that, teaching and preaching the word of God, and many returning to the knowledge of the Gift, he appointed Bishop in that place Apelin. From there he went into the surrounding cities and villages, also, teaching, baptizing, and turning people to faith in Christ, the true God and churches building in His name, made of their souls unholy churches of the Holy Spirit. He did so throughout Thrace, Macedonia and all Thessaly, the first and the second and from Thessalonica to Lycostom and to Farsala.

After Thessaly and Elada passed, he went to the famous Peloponnese ostrov, now called Moreia. And in this place is the fortress which today is called Paleapatra. In this city came the Holy Apostle Andrew, and, going on foot, he lodged in the house of a man named Sosie, who was lying in bed, being ill from a serious illness. He found the doctor of the saint, for, as he entered his house and put his holy hand on him, immediately Sosie got up healthy, with no trace of illness.

But not only this one, but also a servant of the woman Maximila, the wife of the antipathy of the Fathers, was in those days thrown in a garbage dump of the city, completely melted by the disease, and now had no hope of life. Saint Andrew, being a disciple of Christ, to whom neither slave nor slave is considered wrong, but all he has, has not overlooked that servant, to be haunted by the terrible disease, but only by the word saying, “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom I preach, rise up!” And immediately, oh, your wonders, Christ the Emperor! he got up completely healthy. That servant, going to his master, told him all that had happened to him.

Not many days had passed in the middle, and that woman, Maximila, the master of the healed servant, had fallen into a serious illness, so that neither the doctors’ trades could use them, nor the wealth of her husband. she gave it to the doctors, for her husband was, as I said, lord of the place and he was called Egheat.

In an illness like this, he remembered the stranger, the poor man, the defamated apostle, and called him, and after he came he fell at his feet. And what did the apostle do? He put his holy hand on the sick woman, and she became completely healthy. Seeing this miracle Egheat, took much wealth and threw it at the apostle’s feet, asking him to take it for the doctor.

But the purpose of the Holy Apostle was not to gather the ancient riches, but the eternal riches, for the salvation of the people, and for the repentance and return of the antipathy of Egheatus. For this the holy man did not receive, but the eldest said, “Our Lord Christ has commanded us so: In the gift you have taken, in the gift you give.” When they said these things to the saint and taught the word of truth to the people, he went away from them.

Walking through the city, he saw a weak man lying in a piggy bank, who had been sick for a long time, unable to walk at all, nor to move, and had no man to look after him. And the saint and this alone by the name of Christ made him healthy. And not only these wonders did St. Andrew the Apostle there, but also the eyes of many blind people opened them. A leper, who was lying outside the city on the garbage, like the old Job, and he healed him, except he baptized him at sea in the name of the Holy Trinity; and that, after he was baptized and healed, he became a follower of the apostle and preached with great voice to all, through the power of Christ.

Thus, the apostle with his words, miracles, and signs, turning to the knowledge of God all the people who were throughout Achaia, making the flock of Christ and the holy people, rejoicing and rejoicing in the spirit, glorifying God. After this, alone the multitude of Christians who had believed overcame the idolatrous fools, crushed the idols and burned the Hellenistic books as the cause of the wandering of the people, thus giving evidence of their faith to the true one. Then, gathering their wealth, they threw it at the apostle’s feet.

And he praised their fate and the good count received it, and the wealth did not receive it. He commanded them to divide the poor and the poor, and to spend the others on the building of the church, which was committed in a few days. And there were gathered Christians, where the Holy Liturgy was being served, and the bishops and priests were ordained by the Holy Apostle Andrew, listening to the teaching of the holy spring of the saint. For he always taught them from the books of Moses and the prophets, and proved that one and the same law-bearer is also of the Settlement of the old and the new, which at the end of the age descended from heaven and was incarnated from the Holy Birth of God. and the Virgin Mary, for the salvation of the human race.

But while these things were done, the unpleasant Egheat – of whom I said earlier that he had a woman, Maximila, whom the apostle healed – went to Rome, to Caesar, to ascertain for the service. the emperor he had, and to be diligent to regain his control. And his brother, named Stratoclis, who was wise and learned and had only recently come from Athens, where he had been for philosophical teachings, remained the epitropist in his place. And he had a faithful and wise servant, whom he loved very much. This one, in those days, a frightened devil grabbed it and it was a sight of great sorrow. When they saw Stratoclis, they cried, they were angry, they were bitter and they were looking for a doctor to cure this disease. But to see the icon of God, as it brings man to the knowledge of the truth.

Hearing Maximila, the woman of the antipathy, this proclamation proclaimed, “Why are you my brother’s brother and sister-in-law, having in your hands a doctor without payment, are you sad and upset? Here is a poor and strange man by the name of Andrei, that if you will call him, without payment in one hour, your faithful servant may also heal you and this annoyance to comfort you and to make you glad, for I, as you have heard, had a terrible disease. for life I had despaired and only with a word of him are I now healthy. “

When they heard Stratoclis, he immediately called the saint. And only as the apostle of Christ entered, immediately the devil went out and left that place. And the wise servant, formerly connected with iron chains, became healthy. This miracle if Stratoclis and Maximila saw her immediately anathematized the Greek deception and they became Christians, baptizing her the apostle. Since then, they were separated from the saint and every day they were learning from within the most perfect knowledge of the mystery of the holy Christian faith.

As they did so, Egheat, the dislike, also returned from Rome. And after a few days he wanted to meet his woman. And she, being baptized and unwilling to share with her unbelieving and unbaptized husband, first pretended to be ill. And after a few days, because he saw that he could not hide until the end, he showed up. For the pundits pointed to her husband and said, “Since you went to Rome, she has not eaten any of the former dishes, nor worshiped the great gods, but has completely reckoned with purpose and purpose. they, by some old and foreign man who is here.

These, when Egheat heard them, were all angry, and went out of their minds. It was scary and scary and it had only one purpose: to kill the Apostle Andrew. So, for a while, he put him in jail, until he figured out what death he would kill. And at midnight, Stratoclis, taking his sister-in-law Maximila and others, who were more diligent in the faith of those who had believed, went to the prison which was sealed with the seal of Egheat, and which the soldiers carefully guarded.

So there they went, slowly knocking on the door to hear the saint. Hearing the saint, he opened the prison door with prayer and entered. Then Stratoclis and Maximila fell at the feet of the saint, praying and asking to strengthen and empower them in the faith of Christ. And the saint, when he had said many things, taught them their counsels, and counseled them, and Stratoclis, being ordained a bishop of the Paleopatras, sent the peace-giants. As they went, St. Andrew again with prayer closing the prison doors, as they were sealed before, sat in wait for the judgment of the pagan Egheat.

So, the antipath, seeing that Maximilian’s wife, having completely rejected her, ignited with anger, ruled on the Holy Apostle dying on the cross. He considered that this would upset Saint Andrew, but he did not know that a death like this was joy, joy and eternal life of the saint, because he wants to be a partaker of the passions of Christ, his teacher.

For this, taking the soldiers to crucify him, seeing the cross praised her, as one who was about to do his ascension to heaven. Then the Christians who were there, teaching and strengthening them, went up on the cross rejoicing, and the soldiers of Egheat, doing their Lord’s will, perished on the cross the hands and feet of the apostle, for whom the priests work. and the deacons of Ahazia wrote:

“The suffering of St. Andrew the Apostle, which we have seen with our own eyes, all the priests and deacons of the churches of Ahaziah, we write to all the Churches which are at the East and at the West, at the Mids and the Nights, which are made and built in His name. Christ, peace to you and to all those who believe in the one perfect God in the Trinity, in the true unborn Father, in the true Born Son, in the true Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and rests in the Son. For this faith I have learned from Saint Andrew, the apostle of Christ, whose suffering we saw, we have overcome and as far as we can tell. “

The antipathetic Egheat, returning from Rome with renewed dominion and entering the city of the Fathers, began to compel those who believed in Christ to offer sacrifices to idols. He, coming out before St. Andrew, said to him, “It is up to you, being a judge of the people, to know your Judge who is in heaven, and knowing Him, to worship Him, and worshiping Him. to the true God, to turn from those who are not gods. “

And Egheat said to him, “Are you Andrew, who wastes the dwellings of the gods, and advises the people to receive the wicked faith, which has recently been revealed and which the kings of Rome have commanded to lose?”

Saint Andrew said: “The kings of Rome have not yet known this, that the Son of God coming to earth for the salvation of men in truth has shown that those idols, not only are not gods, but impure devils and enemies of the human race, who teaches men and urges them to all uncleanness: for in wrath God turneth away from them, and heareth them not: but when God is angry with them, and turneth away from men, then the devils take them. under their control, and to the extent that I deceive the people, that they take away their nakedness from all good deeds, having nothing but their sins that they carry with them. “

Egheat said, “These words of blasphemy and desolation, when Jesus was preaching to you, the Jews perished on the cross.” Saint Andrew replied: “O, if you wanted to know the mystery of the Cross, how the Builder of the human nation, for His love to us, endured the Cross, not by will but by will, for which I myself am a witness, and he knew the time of His passions before and before, He told us about His Resurrection, the third day and the most recent dinner with us sitting down, He told us about His seller, He also told us about those that were to be upon Him. And knowing that place, where it was to be given to the Jews, He willingly came. ” And Egheat said, “I marvel at you, for you are a wise man, and you follow Him whom you in any way, willingly or inadvertently, confess to have been crucified on the cross.”

The Apostle replied, “The mystery of the Holy Cross is great, and if you will listen, I will tell you.” And he answered, “It is not that secret, but the punishment of the wicked.” Saint Andrew replied: “That punishment is the mystery of renewing people, only to want to listen to me patiently.” Egheat said, “Behold, I hear you patiently, but you also, if you do not do what I command you, the same secret of the Cross, oppress you.” And the apostle said: “If I had feared the punishment of the Cross I would never have praised the Cross.” Egheat said, “As of your folly you praise the Cross, so from your boldness you are not afraid of death.”

The apostle replied, “Not out of boldness, but out of faith I am not afraid of death. For the death of the righteous is honorable, and of sinners it is terrible. So I want you to hear the mystery of the Cross, and knowing the truth to believe and believe you know your soul “. Egheat said, “That thing is the one who has lost? Did my soul just lose that you command me to find out by faith that I do not know in what way it is?”

Saint Andrew replied: “This is what you will learn from me, for I will show you the loss of human souls, so that you may know their salvation, which by the cross was worked. The first man by breaking the commandment, that is, by wood death in the world, and it fell to the human race to save death from the wood, and just as from the clean earth was built the first man, who brought death through the wood of the transgression of the commandment, so it was born Christ of the pure Virgin, perfect man, Who is the Son of God, He who built the first man and renewed the eternal life, which all men had lost, and through the wood of the Cross to return from the wood of lust, to whom the first man, stretching out his hands, was wrong, so it was necessary for the Son of God to stretch out his innocent hands on the Cross, in order not to break the human hands. that of the wood of the stopped, to taste the bitter iron and taking upon Him our death, to give us His immortality. “

After these things Egheat said, “Tell these words to those who obey you, and you will not listen to my commandment and will not sacrifice to the gods, then beat you with rods, I will crucify you on the Cross which you praise. “.

Saint Andrew replied: “I, the One, the True and Almighty God, bring daily incense to them, not incense, nor ox, nor blood of goats, but the pure lamb, who sacrificed on the altar of the Cross, with whom the Body of the Prophet is divided, all the faithful people share and drink His Blood, while this Lamb remains whole and alive, though He truly stirs and traces His Body of all, and His Blood of all eats, but I mean, he always spends the whole, free and alive. ” Egheat said, “How can this be?”

Saint Andrew replied: “If you want to know, be a disciple, to learn the one you are asking for.” Egheat said, “I will seek that teaching from you with pains.” The apostle replied, “I am astonished at you, for you, being a wise man, speak the foolish things. But will you be able, by tempting me with labors, to know the mysteries of God from me? Have you heard the mystery of the Cross, have you heard the secret If you believe that the crucified God of the Jews is a true God, then I will show you how, being killed lives and how being sacrificed and eaten, he spends the whole of his kingdom. ” Egheat said, “If he is killed, and he is eaten by men, as you say, then how can he be whole and alive?” The apostle replied, “If you believe with all your heart, you may know this mystery; and if you do not believe, you will never know this secret.”

Then Egheat, being angry, commanded the apostle to be cast into prison. And being cast into the dungeon, he was assembled with many people from all sides, and would kill Egheat, and Saint Andrew, and cast him out of the dungeon. And the Holy Apostle stopped them, teaching them and shouting, “Do not forsake the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ in devilish disorder, for our Lord Jesus Christ, giving Himself to death, has shown all patience and opposition, He did not shout, nor was His voice heard in the streets, so be silent and be at peace.

And not only do you not hinder my martyrdom, but you also find yourself as good men and needy men of Christ, not afraid of the terrors of the tyrant, but patiently bearing upon your bodies the wounds that will be upon you. your tormentors. That someone needs to be afraid of fear, then it is appropriate to be afraid of the fear that has no end. For fear and dread of men are like smoke, that, as soon as they appear, they are quenched. And if we want to fear pain, then it is appropriate to fear those who never end.

For these temporary pains, though small, with ease, endure, and if they are great, then the soul departs from the body, they alone end. Those pains are terrible, which are eternal, where there is the constant cries, cries, sobs and endless work, to which Egheat is not afraid to go. So be ready for it older, so that through these temporary annoyances you can move on to eternal joy, where you will always rejoice with Christ and reign with Him. “

Thus, Saint Andrew, spent the whole night teaching the people. And the next day, the ungodly Aegean sat down and brought before St. Andrew, and said to him, “Do you think that you should forsake your folly and stop preaching Christ, so that you may rejoice are we in this life? For it is a great folly to go willingly to torment and fire. ” Saint Andrew replied, “To rejoice with you, I will only be able to believe in Christ and reject you from idols; for Christ sent me to this part where much people have gained Him.”

Egheat said, “Therefore for this I make you offerings for sacrifices, that those who are deceived by you may leave the vanity of your teaching and bring the sacrifices of pleasing to the gods. that their honor may rejoice over you, that those who are angry with you, may also be entranced by you, to spend our friendly love, and if not, then many kinds of affliction will you take, for the dishonesty that through you made them, and you will be hanged on the Cross which you praise. “

To these St. Andrew replied: “Listen, son of perdition, straw prepared for everlasting fire, listen to me the servant of the Lord and the apostle of Jesus Christ, who until now have spoken gently to you, teaching you the holy faith, that only as you have an understanding, to know the truth by being cast down by idols, worshiping the God of the One who dwells in heaven, but since you spend in the dark and think that I fear your torments, then cook on me the torments of those that you know are heavier, for the better I will receive for my Emperor, the harder I will endure for him. “

Then Egheat commanded, that he should stretch it out on the ground, and smite him. And after they had been changed seven times by three who beat him, they lifted up St. Andrew and took him to the judge, who said to him, “Andreie, listen to me, don’t. I will pour your blood into the wilderness, that if you will not listen to me, then I will crucify you on the cross. ” Saint Andrew replied: “I am the servant of the Cross of Christ, and I long for the death of the Cross more than to deliver me from torments, which I am not afraid of; and you will be able to escape the eternal torments that await you, if you tempt patience my, you will believe in Christ, for I am more grieved for your loss, than you are for my suffering. Since my sufferings will be only one day, or at most two, and will end, and your passions will not after thousands of years will not end. That is why you do not multiply your passions, nor light your everlasting fire. “

So Egheat, being angry, commanded to crucify St. Andrew on the cross, tying his hands and feet, that he did not want to kill him with sprays, lest he should die, but to hang him as bound. more torment to suffer and suffer.

So the slaves of the ighemon, leading the saint to crucifixion, ran the people, shouting, “What wrong has this righteous man and the friend of God? Why do they lead him to crucifixion?” And St. Andrew prayed to the people, so that they would not prevent his sufferings. For he went on gladly, and taught the people continually. And when he came to his place, where he was about to crucify him, when he saw from a distance the cross prepared for him, he cried with a loud voice:

“Rejoice, holy cross with the body of Christ and His members as ornaments of adornment, for before the Lord crucified you, you were afraid of men, and now you are beloved and received with desire. For I know the believers how much joy you have in you, and what kind of reward is prepared for you, I with boldness and joy come to you; so receive me gladly, for I am a disciple of the One who was hanged upon you. I have always wished you and I wanted to hug you, oh, good Cross, that you have gained your beauty and goodness from the members of my Lord. What you are longing for and with a daring love, which I have constantly sought you for. now I have prepared you for my heart’s desire. So take me from among the people, and give me to my Master, that through you may receive me the One through whom you have redeemed me. “

They said that he stripped off his clothes and gave them to the tormentors, and they raised the Cross, tying his hands and feet with ropes, crucified him and hanged him. And the multitude of the people stood about him, as at twenty thousand, among whom was Stratocles the brother of Egheat, who cried with the people, “This holy man doth wrongfully suffer.” And St. Andrew strengthened those who believed in Christ, encouraged them to be patient in the work of the day, teaching them that no work of the present time is worthy, besides the reward of the goodness of those who want to be.

Then all the people ran to the court of Egheat, crying and saying, “It is not right to suffer these things, this holy, honest and good teacher, with good and gentle habit and wise, but falls from the cross, for behold! it is the second day since he is hanged on the cross and does not cease learning justice. “

Then Egheat, fearing for the people, ran with the people to bring down the Saint Andrew from the cross. And when Saint Andrew saw Egheat, he said to him,

“Egheat, why did you come? If you want to believe in Christ, then, as I promised you, the door of the gift will open to you. And if only for this you have come, to let me loose from the cross, then know that I, until I am alive, do not want to be descended from the cross, for now I see my King, now I worship him, now I stand before him and rejoice, and for you I mourn and I am sorry that I am waiting for you. the eternal loss, which is cooked and waiting for you. So, take care of yourself, until it is within your power, that at that time you should not start, when it will not be possible to you. “

And wanting the servants to untie him, they could not touch him, and then the other multitude of the people who had come there, were striving after each other to untie him, yet they could not, for their hands seemed as death. After these, St. Andrew cried out with a loud voice, “Lord Jesus Christ, do not let me be released from the cross on which I hang for Your name, but receive me. My teacher, who I loved, who loved You, I have known and I have confessed to You in my whole life, and now I still confess You, who wish to see You, and who I am by what I am, receive my Lord Jesus Christ in peace, for now is the time to come and to You see me the one you want. Receive me, good Teacher, and do not command me to come down from the cross, before you take my soul. “

When he had said these things, behold, a great light from heaven shone forth like lightning, which all saw, and about him shone, so that it was not possible for the human eye, the youth, to look toward it. And he spent that heavenly light shining like half an hour; and when the light was gone, the Holy Apostle also gave his holy soul, and with it went forth to stand before the Lord.

And so the old saint ended, being full of days, that he lived like eighty years. That it was so, as the true disciple of Christ, being an apostle, with a martyr’s end to perform the way of preaching. And the hatred of God Agheate, of loving-kindness, and of the demons that were ministered to and honored by him, was worthy of rewards, as he ascended a high hill, and thence fell the heathen, and was crushed, and – as the Lord David said – his bones were scattered near hell.

And Stratoclis and Maximila, who was of a kind and daughter of a senator, who had believed in Christ, lowering the honest and holy body of the apostle from the cross and anointing him, put him in a prominent place. So Stratoclis, distributing to the poor all the wealth of his brother Egheat and building the episcopate of his estate, where they placed the body of the saint, spent the other part of his life, well pasturing the flock entrusted to him. Maximila also, sharing most of his wealth with the poor, stopped a part with which he built two monasteries: one for monks and the other for nuns.

And so with the pleasure of God living her, she went to the eternal dwellings, instead of the things of the earthly and wicked, acquiring the heavenly and unsavory beauties.

And the relics of St. Andrew the Apostle remained in the bishopric of Paleapatra for many years, doing ceaseless miracles and curing all sickness and powerlessness, until the days of the great Constantine, the first Christian among the emperors, who had three sons: Constantia, Constantin and Consta. Two of his sons each took part of his kingdom. Consta took Rome, Constantin Portugal, and Constantie, the third son, took Constantinople, that is the seat of his father.

So, this Constantie, received in his heart a good desire and a useful soul. He wanted to bring the relics of the Holy Apostles, Andrei, Luca and Timothy to Constantinople and place them in the church of the Holy Apostles, which his father, the great Constantine, had built. At that time, Saint Artemis, who later confessed the faith, in the time of Julian the Paravate, was a gentleman and a priest in Alexandria, and before him he was considered worthy of a service like this. So he called him to himself and commanded him as a worthy man to serve them in this praiseworthy service.

Then went St. Artemia and took from Ephesus the relics of Saint Apostle Timothy, those of Saint Apostle Luke, from Tivele Beotia, and from Paleapatra he took the honors and holy relics of Saint Andrew the Apostle.

And so he brought them with great honor to Emperor Constantine in Constantinople. And the emperor having received them with great devotion, worshiping them, then kissing them with love, placed them in the too famous and illuminated church of the Holy Apostles, on the right side of the Holy Altar, and there they were worshiped and honored by the blessed, as long as the Christians had a kingdom. And when Constantinople was looted, the holy relics were divided into the hands of the blessed Christians.

This is the life and feast of the Holy Apostle Andrew, these are the stories according to our powers, about the disciple of Christ, the first called. Thus the saint spent, so he needed, so he changed the hunting of fish to the hunting of men, so he acquired the kingdom of heaven, and now he rests and rejoices in the kingdom promised by his Master, as he promised himself: I promise you, as my Father has promised me, a kingdom.

Now he sits at his prepared table, according to his unfailing promise, to eat and drink at My table, in My kingdom. And pray continually for us, those who are enlightened by his preaching, as we unfortunately repent and cleanse ourselves to confess ourselves to the same Kingdom, with the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all glory and worship, together with the Father, are due. His, the Beginning, and His Holy, Good, and Life to His Spirit-maker, now and forever and forever. Amen.

 

 

 

 

Akathist to Saint Apostle Andrew

Beginning prayers:

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.

Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.

Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.

O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Kontakion 1
Apostle Andrew, the Apostle Peter’s Brother, will praise the believers as the first-called disciple and follower of the Passion of Christ, as the one who has turned them back to baptism. For this we sing to them: Rejoice, Saint Andrew, Apostle!

Ekos 1
My soul troubled by thoughts and wicked words, cleanse with your divine but who dwelt in you, the preacher of Christ, Andrew, that, being pure, to give birth to such worthy songs:
Rejoice, the fisherman you have become an apostle;
Rejoice, that you first had St. John the Baptist as a teacher;
Rejoice, that of the disciples of the Saviour you were first called to the apostolic gift;
Rejoice, that you have done with a great discipleship of Christ;
Rejoice, because you also brought your brother Peter to Christ;
Rejoice, that with all the apostles you followed the Lord;
Rejoice, that you are of the first apostles of Christ;
Rejoice, that you have kept loving kindness to the Lord;
Rejoice, for His love, through many countries, you have preached to him God-giving life;
Rejoice, for preaching to the heathen the faith in Jesus Christ, many abominations have endured;
Rejoice, that you were beaten with wood and stones;
Rejoice, that those savages biting you with teeth;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 2
With the word of the Gospel, Andrew pre-appraised, from the depth of deceit you hunted the peoples as you promised the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who taught you to hunt people to His faith. For this we sing to God: Alleluia!

Ekos 2
As a habitant of the mystery, a seer, and a risen of the knowledge of Christ the unspeakable, who has taken from above the Holy Ghost, speak in tongues and share the gifts. For this we praise the present and we sing to you:
Rejoice, the host of the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire;
Rejoice, that through many countries you have gone from place to place;
Rejoice, being torn by the heathen, the Lord Jesus made you fit;
Rejoice, that many of the best Christians ordained bishops and priests;
Rejoice, that through cities and villages walking and preaching, many made you Christians;
Rejoice, that after many years of preaching, at the end you have come to martyrdom;
Rejoice, that the unbelieving heathens who have been struggling on the cross have put their heads down;
Rejoice, that your divine soul in heaven is gone;
Rejoice, that Christ has put a crown on your head;
Rejoice, that all the heavenly hosts for the crowning of the precious songs sang;
Rejoice, that the angels and the saints gladly in your palatial palace set you down;
Rejoice, the Holy Trinitarian humble;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 3
You thirst at the call of the Saviour Apostle Andrew and willingly gave you to obey his teaching as a deer at the water springs, and you all preached true God; For this we sing: Alleluia!

Ekos 3
The most valued monk, the one hidden in the mystery of your heart, in the world you put it before, Apostle Andrew; The faithful the heathen having received it, treasure they did. For this we bring you these:
Rejoice, praise the Most Holy Mother of God;
Rejoice, the one with the angels and all the saintly singers;
Rejoice, our keeper;
Rejoice, our mediator before the Mother of God’s forerunner;
Rejoice, our prayer to the Lord God;
Rejoice, of the mysteries of Christ the servant;
Rejoice, the foundation of the confession of Christ;
Rejoice, that you have preached the faith given by the Lord Jesus Christ;
Rejoice, the light of the heavenly knowledge;
Rejoice, the teacher of the righteous faith;
Rejoice, through whom Christ dwells;
Rejoice, through which Satan is destroyed;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 4
As a proclamation of the gospel in the hands of the much-praised Andrew, all the earth enriched the divine preaching. For this we honor your remembrance, along with your anguish, singing to God: Alleluia!

Ekos 4
The capes turning them into the churches of God, the preached Apostles Andrew, sanctified the sons of baptism into which the gift renewed them by water and by the Spirit. That’s why we praise you:
Rejoice, obedient angelic songs;
Rejoice, that you have crucified the worldly, and Jesus Christ lives in you;
Rejoice, through which the darkness was scattered;
Rejoice, through whom the world was enlightened;
Rejoice, unity with God;
Rejoice, higher heavens than the heavens;
Rejoice, that you have become a partaker of the divine nature;
Rejoice, that you have brought the sons of men to God;
Rejoice, the useful church;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 5
You know the fires of the flesh, married Andrew, worthy and partaker of your brother Peter you have received the saying, “I have the Desirer!” And you showed him the knowledge of the Spirit. For this we sing to God: Alleluia!

Ekos 5
With the narthex of the word, from the depth of deceit, you hunted specimen fish, happy Apostle Andrew, and at the table of Christ, clean food, you brought bright ones; For this we sing:
Rejoice, Andrew, sweeten the mind;
Rejoice, divine pleasure of men;
Rejoice, through which the faith has widened;
Rejoice, through which the wandering has failed;
Rejoice, for Christ, all the worldly garbage you have reckoned;
Rejoice, that all of you have done, that many of you may save them;
Rejoice, in the wisdom of God, a great vessel;
Rejoice, sweet Christ thought;
Rejoice, for the divine gods, Oily;
Rejoice, for the sickly sick doctors;
Rejoice, the depth of the words of those inspired by God;
Rejoice, the wave of the understanding of the wise of God;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 6
The deity goddess, the Almighty and the light the glowing Spirit, in you, the great apostles Andrew, living in a godly manner in the form of the tongue of fire, showed you the preaching of the ungodly. For this we sing to God: Alleluia!

Ekos 6
By taking away the fishing nets and taking the cross, you followed Christ, the One who called you, and the net of the Spirit throwing instead of fish the people you hunted. Glory to the Spirit that was given to you! This is what we praise:
Rejoice, the divine incarnations;
Rejoice, God’s imagined book, very useful to the mind;
Rejoice, the divine treasure of the treasures of heaven;
Rejoice, you who are the doctrine of the need of the teachers;
Rejoice, thou hast chosen the Gentiles to divide the preaching work;
Rejoice, that among the mighty miracles you have chosen;
Rejoice, in the shadow of the surprising law;
Rejoice, the truthful pillar;
Rejoice, you who have enriched in witty words;
Rejoice, you have saved the faithful with patience;
Rejoice, prehistoric house of the Holy Trinity;
Rejoice, the Church of the spiritual sons;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 7
Acquire the One you desired, happy apostles Andrew. And now in the incomprehensible dwellings with Him that dwells, reap the sheaves of your labourers after worthy; for this we glorify God with singing, saying, Alleluia!

Ekos 7
Beloved the Master and after Him you followed His footsteps, in a well-led life and His passions without deception, ancestral Andrew, following to death; For this we sing you these:
Rejoice, the word of God unapproachably tall;
Rejoice, God’s unknown iconomy in the deep;
Rejoice, the Comforter’s honest mouth;
Rejoice, your limp fire;
Rejoice, the breaking of the wisdom of the wise;
Rejoice, cast away the skill of the skilled;
Rejoice, the kingdom of heaven for the joy of the host;
Rejoice, the secrets of Christ the announcer;
Rejoice, the nightingale of the sweet, splendid heaven;
Rejoice, the tongue of breath of fire that speaks the divine;
Rejoice, swallow our ears;
Rejoice, the one by whom Christ saves our souls;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 8
With the gift given to you from God, Andrew’s all-praised, the demonic spirits with the word go out, the illnesses run away, the multitude of the passions of soul depart from the sick; For this we sing to God: Alleluia!

Ekos 8
The one of Bethsaida you came out, we call on you to eat your feast by putting it to us today; With the mighty of your struggles, and with the salt of Christ, our minds are blessing, your sweet foods have become ours, that is, the teachings of heavenly counsels; For this we sing you some like these:
Rejoice, the light of the dark with heathen;
Rejoice, the true way of the lost;
Rejoice, the light of Christ, seeing and preaching;
Rejoice, to the passions of Christ, too confessing;
Rejoice over the miracles of the good Lord;
Rejoice, the icon of the beauty of the first imagined;
Rejoice, the dominion of the dogmas of God;
Rejoice, in the light of the thought-made light discovery;
Rejoice, the right show of the torments that await sinners;
Rejoice, the mouth that preached the Christ God;
Rejoice, beholder of the sight of God;
Rejoice, the one who hears those of unquenchable people;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 9
Commanding you to ascend to Mount Zion, the compassionate, Apostle Andrew, and the cup of salvation taking, rejoicing, having drunk, passing by death to the divine life where Christ is God, singing: Alleluia!

Ekos 9
The Fire of the Most Holy Spirit that has descended upon you, the all-praised Apostle Andrew of Christ, has commanded you with a new tongue, with which you have never spoken, to proclaim to His magnificence to the ends of the world. For this we bring you these praises:
Rejoice, that you have known the passions and resurrection of Christ;
Rejoice, that you alone make clear the descent to hell;
Rejoice, you who are full of the fruits of the Most Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, by His Good Gifts;
Rejoice, through whom the Holy Trinity was preached;
Rejoice, through whom the Unification of Trinity was glorified;
Rejoice, premeditated health divided among believers;
Rejoice, the one who is wounded much to the demons;
Rejoice, light brighter than the sun;
Rejoice, the Leader and Light of the Blind;
Rejoice, by the light of all the maker;
Rejoice, the enemies of the mighty conqueror;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 10
Who taught you to say so, Holy Apostle Andrew? Who enlightened your mind to see clearly the radius of the unapproachable glory, which shone the light of Truth in our hearts, without Jesus Christ alone? For this we sing to Him: Alleluia!

Ekos 10
The whole conscience of your preaching, which thou hast smitten in all the earth, and the seer of Christ, and the seer of the high, the one who is honest of the Lord among the twelve apostles, is terrified; For this we sing to you:
Rejoice, pray for us to the Lord;
Rejoice, that through your holy prayers the Lord sends us His rich miracles;
Rejoice, that by your help, the tyrant Satan escapes from us;
Rejoice, that evil thoughts and illnesses you take away from us;
Rejoice, the bright pearl of Christ;
Rejoice, the soul’s comforting of the earth of the troubled;
Rejoice, the bodily health of the sick people;
Rejoice, premarital rulers of those who swim on the waters;
Rejoice, traveling together with those who travel on land;
Rejoice, the help of those who call you when they fly in the air;
Rejoice, our feeder of the hungry for good works;
Rejoice, you who help our prayers for salvation;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 11
With the upper breath of the Spirit, God before you burning with zeal of faith, God-telling God has revealed to you, the great apostles Andrew, the one who sings to your Saviour: Alleluia!

Ekos 11
The light-bearer and gladness-maker, happy Andrew the apostle of Christ, divine your mention of healing radiance shines to those who sing you some like these:
Rejoice, stay brighter than the sun;
Rejoice, a candlestick that shines with a golden radius;
Rejoice, giving gifts of faithful Christians;
Rejoice, the monks of those afflicted in troubles;
Rejoice, you are the scary disdain of demons;
Rejoice, the pre-enlightened beauty of the Church of Christ;
Rejoice, the pre-intimate chamber of Christ with good smell;
Rejoice, the apostolic preachers’ adornment;
Rejoice, the glorious light of the martyrs;
Rejoice, the joy of jubilation;
Rejoice, the happy praise of all the saints;
Rejoice, prayer, mediator and minister of all Orthodox;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 12
As a great disciple of Him Who willingly went to the Cross, to your master until he died, you would go up to the cross of the cross, merry making you heaven, three times happy Andrew apostles. For this we sing the angel’s song to God, saying, Alleluia!

Ekos 12
Thank you, Apostle Andrew, our generations, and your heavens, and the heavens above you, that from the service of the enemy far from us, we have made ourselves together with the holy angels and partakers of the glory of the Lord. That’s why we bring you after their worth:
Rejoice, Apostle Andrew, a pre-sacred name and sweet to the faithful;
Rejoice, the exorcist of all the heresies;
Rejoice, keeper of the virginity of virginity;
Rejoice, the precious and fragrant flower of heaven;
Rejoice, that your prayers are like a ladder, which climbs us to heaven;
Rejoice, the unbridled weapon of the faithful people;
Rejoice, thou that overcome in the days of war the camp of the adversaries;
Rejoice, you who give us the right rain;
Rejoice, you who save us from all kinds of needs;
Rejoice, the one who defends this place by the fire;
Rejoice, thou that deliver us from the wickedness of the enemy;
Rejoice, the one who at the end of our lives helps us to save us through repentance;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

Kontakion 13
O preached holy and married apostles Andrew, we are sorry for your support, so that you may save us with your prayers for the agonizing torment, pre-studying, and comfort us for the joy of heaven; That with you we may sing to God: Alleluia! (This kontakion is said three times)

Then again, the first Ekos
My soul troubled by thoughts and wicked words, cleanse with your divine but who dwelt in you, the preacher of Christ, Andrew, that, being pure, to give birth to such worthy songs:
Rejoice, the fisherman you have become an apostle;
Rejoice, that you first had St. John the Baptist as a teacher;
Rejoice, that of the disciples of the Saviour you were first called to the apostolic gift;
Rejoice, that you have done with a great discipleship of Christ;
Rejoice, because you also brought your brother Peter to Christ;
Rejoice, that with all the apostles you followed the Lord;
Rejoice, that you are of the first apostles of Christ;
Rejoice, that you have kept loving kindness to the Lord;
Rejoice, for His love, through many countries, you have preached to him God-giving life;
Rejoice, for preaching to the heathen the faith in Jesus Christ, many abominations have endured;
Rejoice, that you were beaten with wood and stones;
Rejoice, that those savages biting you with teeth;
Rejoice, Holy Apostle Andrew!

And the first Kontakion
The Apostle Andrew the Apostle, Peter’s Brother, will praise the believers as the first-called disciple and follower of the Passion of Christ, as the one who has turned them back to baptism. For this we sing to them: Rejoice, Saint Andrew, Apostles!
Afterwards, this:

PRAYER

O Lord our God, Thou that hast said, and made thee, turn not thine Divine from us sinners, lest the wicked and terrible wrath of sorrows come upon us, which is the fruit of our sins, which in all The day with the most inexorable day we do. We are sinful and passionate, ungrateful and evil, and You are the source of life and mercy; do not let us, Lord; do not forget our sinners prayer, nor reward us for our iniquities, but because we are not worthy to earn your mercy by all the days of diligence, give us all your mercy, o Lord. For the prayers of your Apostle Andrew, give us new health and life away from all wickedness. For the remembrance of this day, strengthen us with your dominating gift, as from the depths of our hearts, with joy to praise his feast, and glorify Your name for ever and ever. Amen.