Saint Andrew was born in Damascus, Syria, during the days of the Arab invasion, around the year 660, from a pious and virtuous family. His father’s name was George and his mother’s name was Gregorian. Although he was one of the most obedient singers, during the first seven years of his life he was deprived of the ability to speak. He can only be freed from this illness through the contribution of holy sacrifices. Since then, he has had extraordinary talents, especially in eloquence and studying the Bible. His family vowed him to serve the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem.
He traveled to Jerusalem and was appointed by Patriarch Theodoros as his spiritual son. He had noticed great talents in him, so he wanted to prepare him for his succession and appointed him, despite his young age, as custodian of patriarchal documents and responsible for church affairs.
In his time, the heresy of Monothelism, which believed in one will in Christ, appeared, and the Church was confused. Patriarch Sergius of Constantinople (610-638) was the first to call for it for political purposes rather than theological and religious ones, to reconcile the disputing group of those who said that Christ had two natures and the group of those who believed in one nature, intending to unite the ranks to strengthen the support of the Byzantine Kingdom in its positions and wars with... Persians and Arabs King Heraclius liked this policy and he sought to achieve it, but his efforts were thwarted, especially after the Arabs occupied the Syrian and Egyptian countries.
When King Constantine the Bearded ascended to the throne, he called the bishops to a general council to put an end to these religious disputes. Thus, the Sixth Ecumenical Council met in the city of Constantinople in the year 680 AD in the presence of the king himself. Saint Andrew participated in this council on behalf of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, whose attendance was prevented by obstacles, and he signed with the Fathers (the 174th) the Creed which proves that in Christ there are two perfect natures and two perfect wills, and he forbade the followers of the Monothelite heresy.
In his capacity as custodian of patriarchal documents and responsible for ecclesiastical affairs. Shortly after the Sixth Ecumenical Council (around 685 AD), he was sent to Constantinople, accompanied by two holy elders, to present to the Emperor and the Patriarch the confession of faith of his church in support of the condemnation of the One Will heresy. While the two holy elders returned to Palestine, Saint Andrew remained in the royal capital, where favorable conditions were available to him for prayer, study, and apostolic works for which God had prepared him.
Our saint remained in retreat for some time, but he did not hide for long, as the gift of the word and the salvation of souls became apparent to the eyes of the patriarch and the emperor, and he was ordained a deacon of the Great Church. He was also assigned the task of caring for St. Paul's orphanage and the poor shelter in the Afganios neighborhood.
Over the course of twenty years, he persevered with great zeal in managing these two charitable institutions, so that they grew and turned into ports of salvation thanks to his urging of repentance and virtue. He succeeded in his work to the point that in the year 711 AD he was made archbishop of Crete. However, before he left for his new position, things turned around in Constantinople, and Philippicos usurped the throne, patriarch Kyros was overthrown, and John VI was appointed in his place. The latter's mission was to cancel the decisions of the Sixth Council and revive the One Will heresy. It seems that the Saint of God yielded, at that time, to the pressure of the new authority. But as soon as Philippicus was excluded after two years, Andrew returned to himself repentant and recognized two wills in Christ. There are those who say that he established the Great Law of Repentance, known by its name, as an expression of his repentance for his passing misguidance at that time.
To Saint Andrew goes back the creation of a large number of prayers and rituals in honor of the feasts of the Lord, the Mother of God, and the saints. This constituted a valuable inheritance in patristic literature. He also composed, with unparalleled merit, a large number of songs that are still preserved in our liturgical books to this day, to decorate his church celebrations. As we mentioned earlier, the Saint of God established the great law that is recited every year during the season of Great Lent, which has a distinctive impact in the souls of believers as a drive to repentance. In this law, known by its name “The Law of Andrew of Crete” or by the name “The Great Law,” Saint Andrew brings to mind all the images of the Old and New Testaments that can serve as models for the path of guidance and repentance. For the repentant believer who saw, at the beginning of Great Lent, the image of himself in Adam sitting at the gates of Paradise, these examples, drawn from the Holy Bible, lead him to realize that, as he contains the sins of the whole world in his life, he cannot seek salvation except through tears, asceticism, and prayer. He also established the great rule of reverence that is recited on Thursday of the fifth week of the Holy Fortieth Fast, and it is all about seeking forgiveness, asking for mercy, humiliating oneself, and humility.
In addition, Saint Andrew restored churches and monasteries and founded a church for Our Lady of Blachern, in remembrance of the church of the same name in Constantinople. He also organized a shelter for the sick, the infirm, and the needy. His support for him was not only with money, but primarily with personal presence. This is how he found himself taking care of people with disabilities. With good manual labor and a word of condolence together.
It was reported that, through his prayers, he responded to an attack by Muslim Arabs against the island of Crete, saved the island from a drought with prayers and tears, and repelled an epidemic that struck the country. It was all for everyone. He left Crete for Constantinople and strengthened the defense of the right faith regarding icons and their honor. He knew the hour of his departure from his Lord in advance. On his way to Crete, he landed on the island of Mytilene, where Saint Andrew was transferred to the heavenly chambers on July 4, 720 AD.
Our Orthodox Church celebrates his memory on the fourth day of July.
Troparia in the fourth tune
Your deeds of truth have shown you to your flock as a law of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence, Father High Priest Andrew. Therefore, by humility you have achieved exaltation and by poverty, wealth, so you intercede with Christ God to save our souls.
Qandaq with the second tune
You have appeared publicly with divine hymns, and you have appeared to the world as a dazzling luminous star, sparkling with the light of the Trinity, O righteous Andrew, and for this reason we all cry out to you: You continue to intercede for us all.
