Holy and All-priased Apostle Andrew the First-Called

Andrew was a fisherman from Bethsaida, the brother of Peter. The Gospel of John says that he was first a disciple of John the Baptist, followed Jesus when the Baptist pointed him out, and brought his brother Peter to Jesus. He is called the First-Called for that reason.

Tradition says that he preached in Asia Minor, Thrace and around the Black Sea. A medieval Slavic tradition adds that he went up the Dnieper and blessed the hills of Kyiv and travelled as far as Novgorod; historians treat this as a later legend. His Life tells that he was arrested in Patras in Greece by the proconsul Aegeates and crucified there, around 62, and that he preached from the cross for two days. The cross is traditionally pictured X-shaped.