Andrew, St (lived 1st century AD)

New Testament apostle and patron saint of Scotland and Greece. According to tradition, he went with John to Ephesus, preached in Scythia, and was martyred at Patrai in Greece on an X-shaped cross (St Andrew's cross). His feast day is 30 November.

Andrew was a native of Bethsaida, and Simon Peter's brother. With Peter, James, and John, who worked with him as fishermen at Capernaum, he was one of the first four disciples called by Jesus.

The tradition of the saltire shape of Andrew's cross cannot be traced earlier than the 14th century. The Russians revere him as having brought them the Gospel.