St. Andrew, The First Called

Today, November 30, we celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew, the first called among the Apostles. He was a disciple of John the Baptist, and when he heard John point to Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God!", he immediately followed Him, thus being the first called among the Apostles. He preached in various lands, and died in Patras of Achaia, where he was crucified on a cross shaped like and "X", which is also his symbol.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

As the first-called of the Apostles, and brother of their leader, O Andrew, entreat the Master of all that peace be granted unto the world and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion in the Second Tone

Let us praise the namesake of bravery, the divinely eloquent and first to be called of the Disciples of Christ, the kinsman of Peter. As he called out to him in days of old, so now he calls to us, "Come, we have found Him for whom we yearned."