Called By Jesus: Saint Andrew

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him.” Gospel of Matthew 4, 18-20

This is the short yet powerful call of the brothers Peter and Andrew to follow Jesus. Their response to a simple yet profound call would change their lives forever. Their courage and faith would transform the world.

Andrew died a martyr’s death near present-day Patras in Greece in the mid first century. He was crucified on an X-shaped cross. His relics were sent to Rome in 1461 from Constantinople for safekeeping due to Turkish military advances. The relics became an important part of the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome, being enshrined in one of the four central piers of the basilica. After the fall of the Ottoman empire in the twentieth century, the Greek Orthodox requested the return of the relics. Pope Paul VI returned the relics in 1964 and they were enshrined at the beautiful and majestic Basilica of Saint Andrew in Patras, Greece which marks the location of Andrew’s martyrdom.

View of the Gulf of Corinth opposite from Patras, site of the martyrdom of Saint Andrew

In his Gospel, Saint John tells the story of the calling of Andrew differently. He tells us Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist, who at meeting Jesus, went quickly to tell his brother Peter he had found the Messiah. We read in the first chapter of the Gospel of Saint John:

The next day John the Baptist was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

We see in Scripture how Andrew is the one who led Peter, who would become the Prince of the Apostles, to Jesus. Saint John Chrysostom helps us meditate on this moment by writing, “Andrew did not keep this treasure to himself [meeting Jesus], but hastened to share it with his brother… to support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, of loving kinship and sincere affection.”

On this feast, pray for unity among the spiritual descendants of Peter and Andrew, Catholics and Orthodox Christians. May we live as true brothers, leading each other to Christ.

Called by Jesus: Saint Andrew