November 30

Saint Andrew

Feast · Remembered by Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans

Fisherman who brought his own brother, Peter, to meet Jesus

Andrew was a fisherman from Bethsaida, on the Sea of Galilee, and the brother of Simon Peter. John’s Gospel says he first followed John the Baptist. He was one of two disciples who heard John point to Jesus and then stayed with him that day. Andrew’s first move was to find his brother and tell him, “We have found the Messiah.” Eastern Christians still call him the “First-Called.”

In the Gospels he keeps bringing people to Jesus: his brother Peter, a boy with five barley loaves and two fish, and some Greeks who asked to see Jesus. Little is certain about his later life. Early traditions say he preached around the Black Sea and in Greece. A later writing, the Acts of Andrew, says he was crucified at Patras. The X-shaped cross linked to him comes from medieval legend.

Andrew is remembered as the one who quietly brought others to Christ. Scotland, Greece and Russia claim him as patron, and the Church of Constantinople by tradition honours him as its founder.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus. He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ). Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).

John 1:40–42 · BSB

A prayer

God of all, you drew Andrew to follow Jesus, and at once he found his brother Peter and brought him along. Give us the same ready heart, so that we follow when you call and share with family and friends the good news we have found in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.