The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called: Life, Canon, & Akathist Hymn

Saint Andrew, the first-called apostle of Christ, was a native of the city of Bethsaida, the son of a Hebrew named Jonah and brother of the holy chief of the apostles Peter. Disdaining the vanity of this world and preferring virginity to wedlock, he did not wish to marry, and having heard that the holy Forerunner and Baptist John was preaching repentance by the Jordan, he forsook all things and became his disciple. When his teacher pointed to Jesus as He passed by, saying, Behold the Lamb of God, Andrew and another disciple, whom many believe to have been the Evangelist John (who wrote these things in his Gospel), left the Baptist and followed Christ. Andrew knew from the books of the prophets that Jesus was truly the long-awaited Messiah, so he hurried to find his brother Simon Peter, to whom he declared, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ! He then led Peter to Jesus. Afterwards, while he was fishing with Peter off the shore of the Sea of Galilee and Jesus called to them, saying, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men, Andrew dropped his nets and without delay obeyed the Lord’s summons, following Christ together with his brother Peter. Thus Andrew is known as the first-called because he became a follower of Jesus Christ before any of the other apostles.

From the Canon:

My soul, which hath been troubled by wicked thoughts and words, do thou purify with the divine grace which dwelleth within thee, O Andrew, preacher of Christ, that I may pour forth a worthy hymn to thee in purity. 

The Forerunner of Christ, who sprang forth from a barren woman, led Andrew, the most eminent and honored of his disciples, rejoicing, to Christ the supremely glorified, Who was born of the Virgin.

With desire and unwavering love beginning to mount the steps of the virtues, ever learning to ascend, from weakness thou didst attain unto the most exalted strength, O Andrew.

Paperbound, 48 pages, 5" x 8"