St Andrew

Apostle and martyr. Patron saint of Scotland and Russia. Andrew was a brother of Simon Peter. A fisherman who lived at Capernaum, he was a follower of John the Baptist.

When Jesus passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Peter and Andrew fishing and told them: "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Andrew went to his brother Simon and said: "We have found the Messiah." So he was the first apostle and the first missionary.

The Gospels show Andrew sitting at Jesus' feet asking questions on behalf of the others, alongside Peter, James and John.

Andrew is mentioned during the feeding of the 5,000. He found the boy with the basket of bread and two fishes. He is also mentioned in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles.

He is said to have preaching in Sythia, Greece and Byzantium, before being crucified on an x-shaped cross (used on the Scottish flag of St Andrew) at Parras in Achaia in the year 60.