Saint Andrew the Apostle, patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

“We have found the Messiah—which means Christ—and he brought him to Jesus...” These are the words of Andrew in the Gospel of John (Jn 1:35 ff.), when he runs to meet his brother Simon, who would become the first Pope, to tell him that they have seen the Savior. This passage from the Gospel is often referred to in the New Testament as ‘the calling of the first disciples.’.

Shortly before, the apostle Saint John recounts the first conversation between Andrew and another disciple with Jesus, who asks them, “What are you looking for?” And they say to him, "Rabbi, where do you live?" He replied, "Come and see.".

A fisherman from Bethsaida in Galilee and disciple of John the Baptist, the evangelist's account records the moment when Saint Andrew, the first to receive the call, met Jesus. It was a moment that would mark his life forever. “So they went, saw where he was staying, and stayed with him that day; it was about the tenth hour.”.

Patron in Romania, Ukraine, and Russia

Christian writers from the early centuries report that the apostle evangelized Asia Minor and the regions bordering the Black Sea, reaching as far as the Volga. Today he is honored as a patron saint in Romania, Ukraine, and Russia, according to the saint's day Vatican.

The preaching of the Gospel continues in Acacia and, around the year 60, in Patras. Saint Andrew He faces martyrdom hanging on a cross that he wanted to be X-shaped, evoking the Greek initial of Christ's name.

The Pope congratulates the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Yesterday, in St. George's Cathedral, alongside Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, Pope Leo recalled in Turkey that the previous day had been marked by extraordinary moments of grace, commemorating the 1700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. 

Driven by this desire for unity, he said, “we are also preparing to celebrate the memory of the Apostle Andrew, patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. (...) Once again, I am grateful for the fraternal welcome and would like to extend to His Holiness and to all those present my most heartfelt congratulations on the feast day of your patron saint.”.