The Incorrupt Right Foot of the Apostle Andrew in th Cathédral Saint-Sauveur in Aix-en-Provence

 

After the conquest of Constantinople in 1204 by the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade, the relics of the Apostle Andrew ended up in Italy, in the Cathedral of Amalfi, and in the possession of King Charles of Andjou, who was also Earl of Provence.

Some of the relics of the Apostle Andrew later ended up in Provence and today his right foot, which the Lord washed and wiped Himself, is preserved in the Cathedral of the Savior Christ (Cathédral Saint-Sauveur) in Aix-en-Provence.

On Andrew, the Apostle of Christ (Archimandrite George Kapsanis)

 

 

By Archimandrite George Kapsanis

(1987)

The Holy Apostle Andrew was very close to Christ, as was his brother, the Apostle Peter. Because he had a steadfast love for Christ, this love allowed him to be always close to Christ and to be His helper in the work of evangelism.

He had a soul that longed for God. He did not find rest in vanity and on earth. He had a desire for God. And so, when he heard that there was a Prophet in the wilderness of Jordan, John, he left what he had and ran to become his disciple, even though he was old and had obligations.

Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called: Epistle and Gospel Reading

 

Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called

November 30

Matins Gospel Reading

Gospel According to Matthew 4:18-23

English

At that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left their boat and their father, and followed him. And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

Sermon on the Feast of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called (St. John of Kronstadt)

 

 

By St. John of Kronstadt

The Holy Apostle of Christ, Andrew the First-Called, was originally a disciple of Saint John the Baptist who prepared the people to receive the Messiah, When the Savior came out of the wilderness, the Forerunner told the people: "Behold, the Lamb of God" (Jn. 1:36). Immediately Andrew followed after Him. Turning round and seeing him together with John's other disciples, the Lord asked them: "What do ye seek?" They answered: "Master, where dost Thou dwell?" He said to them: "Come and see." The disciples saw where He lived and spent the day there with Him. Soon after this the Lord called Andrew and his brother Peter to follow after Him and told them that they were to become fishers of men unto the salvation of many. From that time forth, they remained with Christ; they were faithful to Him to the end and gave their very lives out of love for Him.

Seven Nuggets in the Time of the Coronavirus (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 

 

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

 

The coronavirus humbled us all, disorganized our society, took us out of our anxious "bliss", our self-sufficiency, our activism and the veneer of our faith. At the same time, it humbled the arrogance of some scientists and politicians.

Each of us, locked in our own monastic cell, thinks, "philosophizes", prays, fills our time creatively and plans. Others suffocate in the small spaces of their residence, contemplating the "before" and "after" of the coronavirus.