My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

ON NOVEMBER 30th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY APOSTLE ANDREW THE FIRST-CALLED (Part II)

Stratocles took Maximilla to the prison, where the holy one was kept under the guard of Aegeates' sentries. They entered St. Andrew's cell and fell at the Saint's feet, imploring the Apostle to strengthen and support them in the True Faith of Christ. The holy Andrew exhorted them at length, and, afterward, he ordained Stratocles as Bishop of Old Patras. He then blessed them and sent them on their way to peace. He then sat down, patiently awaiting the judgment of the ungodly Aegeates. The Proconsul, meanwhile, realized that it was impossible to share living quarters with Maximilla, despite his pleadings and threats; and Satan entered his heart and blinded him with anger.

Enraged, Aegeates ordered that the holy Apostle Andrew be crucified on a cross, his hands and feet bound. He, at first, did not wish him affixed by nails, lest he should die in but a short time; for he thought that by hanging him bound, he might subject him to greater tortures.

"...When he reached the place where he was to be crucified, seeing from some distance the cross being prepared for him, he cried with a loud voice, 'Hail, O cross sanctified by the flesh of Christ and adorned by His members as with pearls!...Take me from among men and give me to my Teacher, that, through thee, He Who redeemed me through thee may receive me."

Thus saying, he removed his clothing and gave it to the torturers. They lifted him up on the cross, nailing and binding his hands and feet with cords; and thus they crucified him head-downward and suspended him. Around him stood a multitude of the people, about 20,000 of them; and among them was also Stratocles, the brother of Aegeates. Saint Andrew strengthened those who believed in Christ and exhorted them to endure transitory sufferings, teaching that no torment can compare with the reward earned by it.

Then Aegeates, fearing the people, went straightway with them to take Andrew down from the cross...When the servants went to unfasten him from the cross, they were unable to touch him. Indeed, a great many other people, one after another, tried to untie him but were unable, because their hands became numb. Thereafter, the holy Andrew cried with a loud voice, 'O Lord Jesus Christ, do not allow me to be taken down from the cross on which I have been suspended for Thy name; but receive me, O my Teacher, Whom I have loved. Whom I have known, Whom I confess, Who I desire to see, through Whom I have become what I am! O Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit in peace, for the time has come for me to go to Thee and look upon Thee Whom I have so ardently desired! Receive me, O Good Teacher, and do not permit me to be taken down over-soon from the cross, before Thou receives my spirit!'

When he said this, a light like lightning from heaven illumined him in the sight of all and shined round about him, so that the eye of corrupt man was unable to look upon him. This heavenly Light shined around him for the space of half an hour, and when the Light departed, the holy Apostle surrendered his spirit and departed, amid brilliant Light, to stand before the Lord.

Maximilla, a woman of noble lineage, who lived a virtuous and holy life, when Saint Andrew had departed to the Lord, took down his body with a great honor. She embalmed it with costly ointments and laid it in the tomb in which she herself had intended to be interred.

This took place on the last day of the month of November, in the city of Patras, in Achaia, Greece, where, ever since, through the prayers of the holy Apostle, many benefactions are bestowed upon the people. The fear of God was upon all, and there was no one who did not believe in our God and Savior, Who desires to save all men and lead them to a knowledge of the Truth, to Whom be glory forever. Amen.

When many years had passed, the holy relics of the holy Apostle Andrew were translated by the Martyr Artemios to Constantinople. At the command of the holy Emperor Constantine the Great, and enshrined with those of the holy Evangelist Luke and Saint Timothy, the disciples of the holy Apostle Paul, in the most splendid Church of the Holy Apostles, within the sacred table of oblation.

After 500 years, the most precious skull of the glorious Apostle Andrew was sent by Basil I the Macedonian (867-886 A.D) to the city of Patras, Greece. Mehmed II (1421) during the Ottoman conquest of the Morea (Peloponnesos) gave the sacred skull of St. Andrew to Pope Pius II (1458-1464) in Rome. Then, in September of 1964, the pope returned the precious skull to Patras. The remaining holy relics of the holy Apostle Andrew and those of the Apostles Thomas, Luke, and Timothy were seized by the Crusaders during their conquest of Constantinople in 1204, and they were brought back to Rome.

Through the prayers of Thine Apostle, O Christ God, do Thou establish Thy faithful servants in Orthodoxy, and save us all. Amen.

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DIVINE SERVICES:

Sunday Evening: Great Vespers at 7:00 p.m.
Monday Morning: Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Monday Morning: Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George