St Andrew’s Day is celebrated each year on 30th November, in honour of St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. What you may not know is that he is also the patron saint of other countries including Greece, Romania, Russia and Barbados.
Andrew, like his brother Simon Peter, was a Galilean fisherman. He became a disciple of John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus when he came to be baptised and said “Behold the Lamb of God!” Andrew understood that Jesus was greater and from then on he chose to follow Jesus. Andrew was the first disciple of Christ and his brother Simon Peter (St Peter) also became a disciple. The two brothers continued with their fishing trade and family affairs until Jesus called them to stay with him all the time, promising to make them fishers of men. Andrew went through life leading people to Jesus, both before and after Jesus died.
After Jesus ascended into heaven, Andrew preached the Gospel in Greece. It was there he was put to his death on a saltire cross where he was fixed not by nails but by rope round his hands and feet. Andrew lived for two days in a state of suffering but still found enough strength to preach to the people who gathered around.
The Scottish flag, the Saltire, is based on the X-shaped cross on which St Andrew was put to death on 30 November 60 AD. It is said that Andrew believed himself to be unworthy to be crucified on a cross like that of Christ so he met his end on a “Saltire” or X shaped cross. This cross remains the symbol of Scotland today and is also incorporated within the British “Union Jack” flag.
