Today we commemorate St. Andrew the First Called. He was a fisherman by trade and the brother of The Chief apostle St. Peter. When St. John the Baptist preached the message of repentance by the Jordan River, St. Andrew responded to his call and became his disciple, and soon after became the first disciple of Christ Himself, through the teachings and directions of the Holy Forerunner.
Soon after, St. Andrew told his brother Peter of the good news–the long awaited Messiah was here. After the glorious death and resurrection of Christ, St. Andrew spread the gospel far and wide. Eventually, St. Andrew was crucified like His beloved Savior, but in the shape of an “X”.
The life of St. Andrew the First-Called
Let us praise the divine leader and namesake of courage, first-called disciple and Peter’s kinsman. For as of old Christ called to him so he now calls to us: Come, we have found the Desired One.
“When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, worship of the Trinity wast made manifest; for the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the likeness of a dove confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee.” -Troparion of Theophany
“Herman of Alaska was a Russian Orthodox monk from Valaam Monastery in Russia who traveled with eight other monks in 1793 to bring the Gospel to the native Aleuts and Eskimos in the Aleutian Islands. As part of the Russian colonization of the Americas, Russians had been exploring and trading there since at least 1740. Thus, he marks the first arrival of Orthodox Christian missionaries in North America. He preached the love of Christ to the Aleutians and drew many to the Church through his charitable life, caring for their orphans, building a school, and frequently defending them from the injustices and exploitation of the Russian traders. He was known to them as Apa which means “Grandfather.” He lived most of his life as the sole resident of Spruce Island, a tiny wooded island near Kodiak Island.” (OrthodoxWiki)
To the Alexandrians. I have already heard of the persecution in Alexandria and the rest of Egypt, and, as might be expected, I am deeply affected. I have observed the ingenuity of the devil’s mode of warfare. When he saw that the Church increased under the persecution of enemies and flourished all the more, he changed his plan.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on.
This is what it’s been leading to. When we give an inch to Executive Orders that defy true government and true law, they take a mile. Governor Newsom has now forbidden singing and chanting in California churches. Continuing to “protest”, that’s fine—as long as your protests isn’t aimed at protesting the lock-downs or mandatory mask executive orders.
Thanks for visiting my blog! I’m Gaby–wife of Peter and mama to six littles here on earth and one in heaven. We are a Christian family who homeschools and by God’s grace, work for ourselves.
Here I write about eclectic topics ranging from motherhood and education, to natural living, business, and faith.
I hope you will find encouragement in this little corner of the internet.
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