St. Andrew the First-Called lived a unique and amazing life. Prayer to this martyr has great power. The story of the apostle will be told by the material.
A life-changing meeting
This martyr was destined to be born in Galilee. This region was inhabited by poor, but very good people. Most of them were engaged in fishing. Many Greeks lived on this land, who peacefully coexisted with the local population. Therefore, the traditions and cultures of different nations were mixed. Even the word "Andrey" is a Greek name meaning "courageous".
From childhood, the future apostle was a very humble and pious child. Therefore, when fate brought him to John the Baptist, he became his supporter. However, this person could not answer all of Andrey's questions. He also declared that the Messiah would soon appear. And so it happened. Several years passed, and Christ came to the banks of the Jordan. The future apostle, and then still a simple fisherman, immediately believed in Jesus and, together with his brother Peter, became his disciple. This saint was one of the first to follow Christ, which is why the prayer to Andrew the First-Called has such power.
However, at that time the students could not leave their homes. After a while theywent to their parents and again engaged in the usual thing - fishing. When Jesus met them again, he told the men that from now on they would be “fishers of men.” After that, the preachers did not part with their teacher.
Defender of the Russian land
After the Resurrection of the Lord, the disciples met with Christ. On the mountain, the Son of God blessed them on their way. The apostles cast lots as to which direction they should go in order to spread the word of the Almighty. Andrew was predicted to preach on the territory of the future Kievan Rus. The apostle became a kind of protector of these lands. That is why the prayer to St. Andrew the First-Called in our territories has such great power.
When the saint came to the place where Kyiv grew up centuries later, he said: “The grace of the Almighty will descend on these lands. A glorious city will be built here. God will bless this land with baptism and many churches will be built here.”
The path of the apostle was not always simple and easy. His road passed between the settlements of the pagans, who tried to cripple and kill the saint. Andrei was pelted with stones, but each time he and his students remained intact.
Subsequently, fate brought him to the city of Pafros. It was here that the gift of the healer manifested itself to the maximum. Since the saint could heal people, the prayer to Andrew the First-Called helps the sick and the destitute.
Heavenly gift
After the miracles that the apostle worked with God's blessing, the blind began to see, the crippled to walk. And people who were predicted to die by the best doctors recovered. Equally good forAndrew treated everyone. He helped both the poor and the rich. As a result, many people in Paphros believed in Jesus.
The only one who did not open his soul to the Lord was the ruler of the city, whose name was Egeat. Although the man himself saw how the apostle works miracles, he still did not believe in the power of heaven. The saint repeatedly addressed the ruler with a good word. But he remained unperturbed.
Prayer to the Apostle Andrew the First-Called provides for unshakable faith in the Almighty. Anyone who sincerely wishes well for his loved ones and for himself does not question the law of God. This means that he will receive salvation.
Despite the persuasion of relatives and friends who already believed in God, Egeat saw the enemy in the saint. Without hesitation, he ordered the execution of the apostle.
Death of a martyr
However, Andrei was ready for such an event and accepted this news humbly. He himself went to the place of death. It seemed to the ruler that another punishment for the saint would be the crucifixion, which he so desperately glorified. But the pagan did not know what power this symbol conceals. It is worth noting that the cross was erected with the letter "X".
For the next two days, a prayer sounded from the mouth of the martyr. Apostle Andrew the First-Called was very hard. To make the saint's suffering last longer, the ruler ordered that his hands not be nailed to the boards, but only tied.
A crowd gathered under the cross, which sincerely listened to the last words of the martyr. It was then that Aegeat was afraid of the revenge of the people and ordered the removal of the apostle. But Andrew askedLord grant him the honor to die a martyr. No matter how hard the soldiers tried, they could not untie the man. When the elder offered praise to God, his cross shone with a pleasant heavenly light and the soul went to heaven.
The ruler's wife, a woman named Maximilla, removed the preacher and buried him.
Knowing the history of the life of the apostle, it is not difficult to understand why prayer to St. Andrew the First-Called can heal.
What to handle?
From ancient times, the martyr was considered the protector of sailors and fishermen. All those who went on a big voyage turned to the preacher. It should be noted that after the apostles were blessed to travel to foreign lands, they began to speak different languages. Therefore, Andrei is also considered the patron saint of translators.
Those who suffer from various diseases can also turn to the martyr: from blindness to migraines. Prayer to Andrew the First-Called for marriage is most often said by parents. They turn to the saint when their child cannot find happiness in his personal life. They ask the saint for chastity and prosperity in marriage.
To him, like other heavenly patrons, the main thing is sincerity of thoughts and humility. You can speak with the martyr in your own words. It is best, of course, to memorize the prayer that church ministers wrote. But a personal request is in no way inferior to spiritual texts.
Prayer to Andrew the First-Called for marriage, which sounds from the lips of an unmarried woman, should not be with demands or reproaches. It is better to fill the prayer with gratitude and hope.
Road to God
They also turn to the saint when they want to return a loved one to the faith. Such a prayer is very symbolic, because the apostle was called the First-Called. He was the first to follow Jesus and even took his brother Saint Peter with him.
The words that you need to say at the same time can be as follows: “The First-Called Apostle, a disciple of our Christ, kind and wise Andrei. You were given the power to guide people on the path of truth. Your bright words led unfaithful people to our Lord. We pray, give us strength to go to the truth. Enlighten the servant of God (name) to step on the path of truth. May your heart be pure, and your blessing fall on your soul. Ask Jesus Christ for us. Amen.”
Return to faith - that's what Andrew the First-Called will never refuse. Prayer will be the first step towards the kingdom of God.