Saint Andrew the patron Saint
Around 300 years after St. Andrew's death, the Roman Emperor
Constantine, a Christian, ordered that the Saint's relics be moved
from Patras to his new capital, Constantinople, on the site of
Byzantium. One version of the story goes that it was at this time
that St. Rule brought some of st. Andrew's relics to Scotland,
because he was warned by an angel in a dream to take the Saint's
bones to “the ends of the Earth.”
The Scottish people adopted St. Andrew Patron Saint of Scotland
and his X-shaped cross (the Saltire) as their symbol.
History does not recall what became of the relics of St Andrew
that were brought to Scotland, but it is likely that they were
destroyed in a frenzy of religious uproar in the 16th century
by protestant reformers, who saw the veneration of such relics
as idolatry, forbidden by the teachings of the Bible. The remainder
of his relics were taken from Constantinople to Amalfi in southern
Italy.
Saint Andrew patron saint of Amalfi, Malta and Sicily as well
as the patron saint of Russia and Romania, where he is believed
to have preached during his life. Greece, whose patron is St.
Andrew, is the site of his martyrdom.
St. Andrew had told Proconsul of Greece, Aegeates wife that she
did not have to suffer abuse from her drunken husband and did
not have to give herself to him under those conditions. For this,
Aegeates had him crucified, stretched and tied to the Saltire
cross, where he suffered for two days until he died.
Due to the support he gave to Aegeates wife, unmarried ladies
or maidens; patron saint is St. Andrew.
Saint Andrew patron saint of Fishermen, fishmongers, mariners,
Army Rangers, rope makers, singers and performers.
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