Andrew (II)

II. ANDREW, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, was a native of Bethsaida, and S. Peter’s Brother. He was at first a Disciple of S. John Baptist, whom he left to follow our Saviour, after the testimony which S. John gave him, saying, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world. He followed our Saviour with another of John’s Disciples, and went into the house where Jesus lodged; there he continued from about four a clock in the afternoon till it was night. This was the first Disciple whom our Saviour received into his train. Andrew introduced his Brother Simon or Peter, and they passed a day with him. After which they went to the marriage of Cana, and at last returned to their ordinary occupation. Some months after Jesus meeting them while they were both fishing together, called them to him, and promised to make them fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets, and were never after separated from his person. Matt. iv.The year following Jesus Christ being in the Wilderness, beyond the Sea of Galilee, asked his Disciples how he should find bread for the five thousand people that had attended him thither. S. Andrew told him, that one in the company had five barley loaves and two small fishes. Within few days before the Passion, certain of the Gentiles being desirous to see Jesus Christ, addressed themselves to S. Philip, who spoke of it to S. Andrew; and both together told our Saviour. Two or three days after, S. Andrew and some other Apostles asked Jesus Christ when the destruction of the Temple should happen. This is what the Gospel informs us of concerning this Matth. xxiii. 21.Apostle.

Some of the Antients are of opinion, that he preached in Scythia¹. Others assure us², that he preached in Greece. Others again differently maintain, that he taught Christianity in Epirus, Achaia, or Argos. The modern Greeks make him the founder of the Church of Byzantium or Constantinople, which the Antients knew nothing of. The Acts of his Martyrdom, which are of pretty good antiquity, tho’ the Criticks will not allow them to be originals, inform us that he suffered Martyrdom at Patras in Achaia, having received sentence to be executed upon a Cross by Egæus Proconsul of this Province. The particular time of his suffering Martyrdom is not known; but all the ancient and modern Martyrologies, both of the Greeks and Latins, agree in celebrating his festival upon the 30th of November. His body was buried at Patras, where he had been crucified: from thence it was removed to Constantinople, where it wrought many miracles³. There is a Cross to be seen at this day in the Church of S. Victor at Marseilles, which is believed to be the same that S. Andrew was fastened to. It is of the figure of a common Cross, and is inclosed in a silver shrine. It is not known for what reason the Painters represent St. Andrew’s Cross like an X. Peter Chrysologus⁴ says, that he was crucified upon a Tree; and as the spurious Hippolytus⁵ assures us, upon an Olive Tree. Nevertheless, the Tradition which describes him to have been nailed to a S. Andrew’s Cross is very antient.

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