He was the son of Jonah and brother of Peter, was born in Bethsaida and was a fisherman by trade. At first he was a disciple of John the Baptist, but when the Forerunner pointed to the Lord Jesus, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God!" (John 1:36), Andrew left his first teacher and followed Christ, becoming His first disciple.

He was the younger brother of Saint Peter and was born in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. The brothers were fishermen by trade. Andrew was so convicted about the teachings of Christ, he brought his brother Peter to the Lord.

Following the descent of the Holy Spirit, it fell by lot to Andrew to preach the Gospel in Byzantium and Thrace, then in the lands along the Danube and in Russia around the Black Sea, and finally in Epirus, Greece and the Peloponnesos, where he suffered. Not much is mentioned in the Book of Acts regarding the life of Saint Andrew.

In Kiev, he planted a Cross on a high place and prophesied a bright Christian future for the Russian people. In the city of Patras, he performed many miracles in the name of Christ, and won many over to the Lord. Among the new faithful were the brother and wife of the Proconsul Aegeates. Angered at this, Aegeates subjected Andrew to torture and was martyred by crucifixion. Because St. Andrew deemed himself unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross on which Christ had been crucified, he asked to be tied to a Crux decussata or an X shaped cross. The Apostle Andrew did not die right away but instead he was left to suffer for two days.

While the apostle of Christ was still alive on the cross, he gave beneficial instructions to the Christians who had gathered around. The people wanted to take him down from the cross but he refused to let them. Then the apostle prayed to God and an extraordinary light encompassed him, which lasted for half an hour. When it disappeared, the apostle gave up his holy soul to God. Thus, the First-called Apostle, the first of the Twelve Great Apostles to know the Lord and follow Him, finished his earthly course. Andrew suffered for his Lord in the year 62.

The Feast Day of Saint Andrew the Apostle is on November 30th.

Learn more: The Astonishing Missionary Journeys of the Apostle Andrew (Road to Emmaus, vol 19, 2004)