Andrew

Who was Andrew? Peter's brother, a fisherman and one of Jesus' first disciples. Tradition says he was crucified at Patras in Greece.

Manner of death
Crucified at Patras, by tradition (Tradition: Acts 1:13)
Age at death
Not stated in the Bible (Not stated in the Bible: Matthew 4:18, John 1:40)
Birthplace
Bethsaida, Galilee (The Bible: John 1:44)
Burial place
Relics in Patras and Amalfi (Tradition)

Andrew was Simon Peter's brother and a fisherman from Bethsaida. He was first a disciple of John the Baptist; when he heard John's testimony he followed Jesus and at once found his brother, saying, 'We have found the Messiah!' (John 1:40–41). For this reason Orthodox tradition calls him the 'First-Called'. In John's Gospel he points Jesus to the boy with five barley loaves and two fish and brings the Greeks who wished to see Jesus. Church tradition says Andrew spread the gospel around the Black Sea and in Greece; the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul honours him as its founding apostle and keeps his feast on 30 November.

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How did Andrew die?

Church tradition says Andrew was martyred by crucifixion at Patras in Greece. Ancient accounts such as the Acts of Andrew say he was tied rather than nailed and kept preaching to the crowd from the cross. The idea that the cross was X-shaped is a later tradition, which gave the saltire its name, the St Andrew's cross. The Bible does not describe his death; it last mentions him with the other apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 1:13).

How old was Andrew when he died?

The Bible does not say how old Andrew was when he died, and no reliable figure is known. What we know is that he was a fisherman casting nets on the Sea of Galilee when he followed Jesus (Matthew 4:18) and that he was one of Jesus' first disciples (John 1:40). Church tradition places his death in the second half of the 1st century; nothing is known of his birth year.

Where was Andrew from?

Andrew came from Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee (John 1:44); his brother Peter and Philip were from the same town. During Jesus' ministry Andrew and Peter shared a house in Capernaum (Mark 1:21, 1:29). The remains of Bethsaida are sought on the lake's northern shore, and its exact site is debated.

Where is Andrew buried?

Church tradition says Andrew was buried at Patras, where his head and some relics are kept today in the Church of St Andrew. His body is said to have been moved in the 4th century to the Church of the Holy Apostles in Istanbul, on whose site the Fatih Mosque now stands. Part of the relics was taken to Amalfi Cathedral in Italy in 1208, while his head, long kept in Rome, was returned to Patras in 1964.

Why is Andrew called the 'First-Called'?

According to John's Gospel, Andrew was one of the first two disciples who followed Jesus after hearing John the Baptist say, 'Look, the Lamb of God!' (John 1:36–40). He then brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus. For this reason the Orthodox Church gives him the title 'First-Called' (Protokletos).

What is Andrew's connection with Istanbul?

Later church tradition says Andrew preached in Byzantium, today's Istanbul, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate therefore regards him as its founding apostle. His relics are also said to have been moved in the 4th century to the Church of the Holy Apostles in Istanbul, on whose site the Fatih Mosque now stands.