In the New Testament of the Bible, Andrew was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, and an apostle. Andrew, brother of the Apostle Peter, was originally a disciple of John the Baptist. According to the Gospel of John, Andrew came from Bethsaida, but the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke suggest that his home town was Capernaum. The Gospels say he was one of the disciples closest to Jesus, but in St Luke and the Acts of the Apostles he is only mentioned in the list of apostles. Saint Andrew was martyred on a cross, and the St Andrew’s cross was named for him.
Andrew the Apostle is honoured as Patron Saint of Russia, and also of Scotland. The diagonal cross on the Saltire, the national flag of Scotland, is that of St Andrew. St Andrew’s Day is marked on November 30 in both the Eastern and the Western Church. It is also the national day of Scotland. Prior to 1774, it was a public holiday in Finland.
