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Description
St. Andrew the Apostle icon
© Cecilia Lawrence
November 17th 2021
8x10 inches
8.5 Hours
Ink, watercolor, gold leaf

PRINTS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE ON ETSY
MOUNTED ICONS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE AT ETSY

“As soon as Andrew heard the Lord preaching,
he left the nets, which were his livelihood and way of life,
and followed the Lord who gives eternal life.
This is the man who endured suffering for the love of Christ and for His law.
And followed the Lord who gives eternal life.”
~ Responsory for the Feast of St. Andrew

“I bow before the cross made precious by Christ, my Master.
I embrace it as His disciple.”
~ Antiphon for the Feast of St. Andrew

“Let us praise Andrew, the herald of God,
the namesake of courage,
the first-called of the Savior’s disciples
and the brother of Peter.
As he once called to his brother, he now cries out to us:
“Come, for we have found the One whom the world desires!”
~ Kontakion — Tone 2

I was commissioned to make this icon of St. Andrew the Apostle. I’ve depicted him holding a book of the Gospels in one hand (symbolizing his preaching) with an X-shaped cross above the other, symbolizing his method of martyrdom.

:+: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE SAINT :+:

Saint Andrew the Apostle (c. 5 A.D. – c. 60 A.D.), was born in the town of Bethsaida, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. His father’s name was Jonah, and with his brother Simon (Peter) he learned the trade of a fisherman. At the beginning of Christ’s public ministry in Galilee, Andrew was living in the town of Capernaum, about five miles away from his native Bethsaida, alongside his brother. He was friends with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, and with John became a disciple of St. John the Baptist. He was present with John when the Baptist pointed out Jesus to them. Andrew later hastened to his brother Simon, telling him, “We have found the Messiah” and then led him to Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew relates that “As He 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.” (Matthew 4:18-20) After Jesus met Simon, they traveled through Galilee until they met Philip and Nathanael. The five disciples were with Christ at the Wedding Feast of Cana (where they first began to believe in Him) and traveled with Him throughout Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. Eventually, Simon returned to Capernaum where he resumed his trade as a fisherman. One day, while Jesus was preaching and the crowds were pressing close around Him, Jesus got into Simon’s boat and had him row out a short ways from shore. There, He continued to preach to the crowds, and upon finishing, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” When Simon protested, saying, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” Having done so, he and Andrew and his fishing partners (James and John, the sons of Zebedee) in the other boat caught so many fish that their nets were tearing. Simon then prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and cried, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” But Jesus replied, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” After that, Simon, Andrew, James, and John left their boats and their nets and followed after Jesus, becoming His disciples.

Later, when Jesus was preaching in Galilee there was a great hungry multitude before Him and, taking pity on them, He asked Philip where they could purchase enough food to feed the crowds. Philip exclaimed that two-hundred day’s wages would barely suffice to feed everyone even a little. It was then that Andrew brought a boy and said, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Then Jesus performed a miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fed the crowds.

Andrew was also one of the apostles who approached Jesus and inquired about the end times after Jesus had prophesied the destruction of the Temple, saying, “Tell us, when will this happen, and what sign will there be when all these things are about to come to an end?”

On another occasion, only a few days before the death of Jesus, the Gospel of John relates that some Greeks who has come to worship in Jerusalem went to Philip and told him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Upon which Philip went to Andrew, and the two of them went and told Jesus.

Andrew was also present at the Last Supper, fled during Jesus’ arrest, and was present in the Upper Room with the other apostles and witnessed the Resurrected Christ. After the Lord’s Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, tradition has it that St. Andrew went to Scythia, Thrace, Achaea, and may even have preached along the Dnieper River. He preached throughout Greece as well, and was martyred in the city of Patras by being crucified on an X-shaped cross.

Prominent relics of St. Andrew are kept housed in Patras, Greece; Amalfi Cathedral, the Cathedral of Edinburgh, and in Warsaw, Poland.

After Andrew had stayed with Jesus and had learned much from him, he did not keep this treasure to himself, but hastened to share it with his brother. Notice what Andrew said to him: “We have found the Messiah, that is to say, the Christ.” Notice how his words reveal what he has learned in so short a time. They show the power of the master who has convinced them of this truth. They reveal the zeal and concern of men preoccupied with this question from the very beginning. Andrew’s words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to his appearing from heaven, rejoicing when he does appear, and hastening to announce so great an event to others. 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.

Notice, too, how, even from the beginning, Peter is docile and receptive in spirit. He hastens to Jesus without delay. “He brought him to Jesus,” says the evangelist. But Peter must not be condemned for his readiness to accept Andrew’s word without much weighing of it. It is probable that his brother had given him, and many others, a careful account of the event; the evangelists, in the interest of brevity, regularly summarize a lengthy narrative. Saint John does not say that Peter believed immediately, but that he brought him to Jesus. Andrew was to hand him over to Jesus, to learn everything for himself. There was also another disciple present, and he hastened with them for the same purpose.

When John the Baptist said: “This is the Lamb,” and “He baptizes in the Spirit,” he left the deeper understanding of these things to be received from Christ. All the more so would Andrew act in the same way, since he did not think himself able to give a complete explanation. He brought his brother to the very source of light, and Peter was so joyful and eager that he would not delay even for a moment.”
“ - From a homily by St. John Chrysostom

The Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle is celebrated on November 30th.

St. Andrew the Apostle is the patron saint of Scotland, Ukraine, Russia, Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Patras, Amalfi, and fishermen.

We humbly implore your majesty, O Lord,
that, just as the blessed Apostle Andrew
was for your Church a preacher and pastor,
so he may be for us a constant intercessor before you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Description
St. Andrew the Apostle icon
© Cecilia Lawrence
November 17th 2021
8x10 inches
8.5 Hours
Ink, watercolor, gold leaf

PRINTS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE ON ETSY
MOUNTED ICONS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE AT ETSY

“As soon as Andrew heard the Lord preaching,
he left the nets, which were his livelihood and way of life,
and followed the Lord who gives eternal life.
This is the man who endured suffering for the love of Christ and for His law.
And followed the Lord who gives eternal life.”
~ Responsory for the Feast of St. Andrew

“I bow before the cross made precious by Christ, my Master.
I embrace it as His disciple.”
~ Antiphon for the Feast of St. Andrew

“Let us praise Andrew, the herald of God,
the namesake of courage,
the first-called of the Savior’s disciples
and the brother of Peter.
As he once called to his brother, he now cries out to us:
“Come, for we have found the One whom the world desires!”
~ Kontakion — Tone 2

I was commissioned to make this icon of St. Andrew the Apostle. I’ve depicted him holding a book of the Gospels in one hand (symbolizing his preaching) with an X-shaped cross above the other, symbolizing his method of martyrdom.

:+: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE SAINT :+:

Saint Andrew the Apostle (c. 5 A.D. – c. 60 A.D.), was born in the town of Bethsaida, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. His father’s name was Jonah, and with his brother Simon (Peter) he learned the trade of a fisherman. At the beginning of Christ’s public ministry in Galilee, Andrew was living in the town of Capernaum, about five miles away from his native Bethsaida, alongside his brother. He was friends with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, and with John became a disciple of St. John the Baptist. He was present with John when the Baptist pointed out Jesus to them. Andrew later hastened to his brother Simon, telling him, “We have found the Messiah” and then led him to Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew relates that “As He 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.” (Matthew 4:18-20) After Jesus met Simon, they traveled through Galilee until they met Philip and Nathanael. The five disciples were with Christ at the Wedding Feast of Cana (where they first began to believe in Him) and traveled with Him throughout Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. Eventually, Simon returned to Capernaum where he resumed his trade as a fisherman. One day, while Jesus was preaching and the crowds were pressing close around Him, Jesus got into Simon’s boat and had him row out a short ways from shore. There, He continued to preach to the crowds, and upon finishing, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” When Simon protested, saying, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” Having done so, he and Andrew and his fishing partners (James and John, the sons of Zebedee) in the other boat caught so many fish that their nets were tearing. Simon then prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and cried, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” But Jesus replied, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” After that, Simon, Andrew, James, and John left their boats and their nets and followed after Jesus, becoming His disciples.

Later, when Jesus was preaching in Galilee there was a great hungry multitude before Him and, taking pity on them, He asked Philip where they could purchase enough food to feed the crowds. Philip exclaimed that two-hundred day’s wages would barely suffice to feed everyone even a little. It was then that Andrew brought a boy and said, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Then Jesus performed a miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fed the crowds.

Andrew was also one of the apostles who approached Jesus and inquired about the end times after Jesus had prophesied the destruction of the Temple, saying, “Tell us, when will this happen, and what sign will there be when all these things are about to come to an end?”

On another occasion, only a few days before the death of Jesus, the Gospel of John relates that some Greeks who has come to worship in Jerusalem went to Philip and told him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Upon which Philip went to Andrew, and the two of them went and told Jesus.

Andrew was also present at the Last Supper, fled during Jesus’ arrest, and was present in the Upper Room with the other apostles and witnessed the Resurrected Christ. After the Lord’s Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, tradition has it that St. Andrew went to Scythia, Thrace, Achaea, and may even have preached along the Dnieper River. He preached throughout Greece as well, and was martyred in the city of Patras by being crucified on an X-shaped cross.

Prominent relics of St. Andrew are kept housed in Patras, Greece; Amalfi Cathedral, the Cathedral of Edinburgh, and in Warsaw, Poland.

After Andrew had stayed with Jesus and had learned much from him, he did not keep this treasure to himself, but hastened to share it with his brother. Notice what Andrew said to him: “We have found the Messiah, that is to say, the Christ.” Notice how his words reveal what he has learned in so short a time. They show the power of the master who has convinced them of this truth. They reveal the zeal and concern of men preoccupied with this question from the very beginning. Andrew’s words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to his appearing from heaven, rejoicing when he does appear, and hastening to announce so great an event to others. 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.

Notice, too, how, even from the beginning, Peter is docile and receptive in spirit. He hastens to Jesus without delay. “He brought him to Jesus,” says the evangelist. But Peter must not be condemned for his readiness to accept Andrew’s word without much weighing of it. It is probable that his brother had given him, and many others, a careful account of the event; the evangelists, in the interest of brevity, regularly summarize a lengthy narrative. Saint John does not say that Peter believed immediately, but that he brought him to Jesus. Andrew was to hand him over to Jesus, to learn everything for himself. There was also another disciple present, and he hastened with them for the same purpose.

When John the Baptist said: “This is the Lamb,” and “He baptizes in the Spirit,” he left the deeper understanding of these things to be received from Christ. All the more so would Andrew act in the same way, since he did not think himself able to give a complete explanation. He brought his brother to the very source of light, and Peter was so joyful and eager that he would not delay even for a moment.”
“ - From a homily by St. John Chrysostom

The Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle is celebrated on November 30th.

St. Andrew the Apostle is the patron saint of Scotland, Ukraine, Russia, Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Patras, Amalfi, and fishermen.

We humbly implore your majesty, O Lord,
that, just as the blessed Apostle Andrew
was for your Church a preacher and pastor,
so he may be for us a constant intercessor before you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.