The Church today venerates the memory of Andrew, the First-Called Apostle.
This saint was from Bethsaida of Galilee; the son of Jonas and the brother of Peter, the chief of the Apostles. Initially a disciple of John the Baptist; upon hearing the Forerunner’s witness concerning Jesus, he immediately followed Christ, and became His first disciple – where-fore he is known as the First-called of the Apostles.
After the Ascension of the Savior, he preached in various lands. Having suffered many torments for his faith, he died in Patras, in southern Greece, where he was crucified on a cross in the shape of the Latin “X,” or the letter Chi in the Greek alphabet – corresponding to the first letter of “Christ” in Greek.
St. Andrew is the patron saint of Patras, in the Achaia prefecture, and the annual feast day on Nov. 30 is celebrated with splendor and reverence by the faithful and pilgrims from around Greece.