Difference between revisions of "Andrew of Crete"

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[[Image:Andrewofcrete.jpg|right|thumb|200px|St. Andrew of Crete]]
 
[[Image:Andrewofcrete.jpg|right|thumb|200px|St. Andrew of Crete]]
Our father among the saints '''Andrew, Archbishop of Crete''', was born in the city of Damascus into a pious Christian family. Up until seven years of age the boy was mute and did not talk. However, after communing the [[Holy Mysteries]] of Christ he found the gift of speech and began to speak. And from that time the lad began earnestly to study [[Holy Scripture]] and the discipline of theology.  
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Our father among the saints '''Andrew, Archbishop of Crete''', was Archbishop of Crete at the end of the 7th century and the beginning of the 8th.  He was a true luminary of the Church, a great hierarch—a [[theologian]], teacher and [[hymnographer]], best known for writing the [[Great Canon]]. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[July 4]].
  
At fourteen years of age he went off to [[Jerusalem]] and there he accepted [[monastic]] [[tonsure]] at the monastery of St. [[Sabbas the Sanctified|Sava the Sanctified]]. St Andrew led a strict and chaste life, he was meek and abstinent, such that all were amazed at his virtue and reasoning of mind. As a man of talent and known for his virtuous life, over the passage of time he came to be numbered among the Jerusalem clergy and was appointed a secretary for the [[Patriarchate]]—a writing clerk. In the year 680 the [[locum tenens]] of the [[Church of Jerusalem|Jerusalem Patriarchate]], Theodore, included [[archdeacon]] Andrew among the representatives of the Holy City sent to the [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]], and here the saint contended against [[heresy|heretical teachings]], relying upon his profound knowledge of Orthodox doctrine. Shortly after the Council he was summoned back to Constantinople from Jerusalem and he was appointed archdeacon at the church of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]], the Wisdom of God. During the reign of the emperor Justinian II (685-695) St. Andrew was ordained [[bishop]] of the city of Gortineia on the island of Crete. In his new position he shone forth as a true luminary of the Church, a great hierarch - a [[theologian]], teacher and [[hymnographer]].  
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==Life==
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St. Andrew was born in the city of Damascus into a pious Christian family. Up until seven years of age the boy was mute and did not talk. However, after communing the [[Holy Mysteries]] of Christ he found the gift of speech and began to speak. And from that time the lad began earnestly to study [[Holy Scripture]] and the discipline of theology.  
  
St. Andrew wrote many liturgical [[hymn]]s. He was the originator of a new liturgical form - the [[canon]]. Of the canons composed by him the best known is the [[Great Canon|Great Penitential Canon]], including within its 9 odes the 250 [[troparion|troparia]] recited during the [[Great Lent]]. In the First Week of Lent at the service of [[Compline]] it is read in portions (thus called "methymony", and again on Thursday of the Fifth Week at the [[All-night Vigil]] during [[Matins]].  
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At fourteen years of age he went off to [[Jerusalem]] and there he accepted [[monastic]] [[tonsure]] at the monastery of St. [[Sabbas the Sanctified|Sava the Sanctified]]. St. Andrew led a strict and chaste life, he was meek and abstinent, such that all were amazed at his virtue and reasoning of mind. As a man of talent and known for his virtuous life, over the passage of time he came to be numbered among the Jerusalem clergy and was appointed a secretary for the [[Patriarchate]]—a writing clerk. In the year 680 the [[locum tenens]] of the [[Church of Jerusalem|Jerusalem Patriarchate]], Theodore, included [[archdeacon]] Andrew among the representatives of the Holy City sent to the [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]], and here the saint contended against [[heresy|heretical teachings]], relying upon his profound knowledge of Orthodox doctrine. Shortly after the Council he was summoned back to Constantinople from Jerusalem and he was appointed archdeacon at the church of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]], the Wisdom of God. During the reign of the emperor [[Justinian II]] (685-695) St. Andrew was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] [[bishop]] of the city of Gortineia on the island of Crete.
  
St. Andrew of Crete gained renown with his many praises of the [[Theotokos|All-Pure Virgin Mary]]. To him are likewise ascribed: the Canon for the feast of the [[Nativity]] of Christ, three odes for the Compline of [[Palm Sunday]] and also in the first four days of Holy [[Passion Week]], as well as verses for the feast of the [[Meeting of the Lord]], and many another church-song. His hynographic tradition was continued by the churchly great melodists of following ages: Saints [[John of Damascus]], [[Cosmas the Hymnographer|Cosmas of Maium]], [[Joseph the Hymnographer|Joseph the Melodist]], [[Theophanes the Confessor|Theophanes the Branded]]. There have also been preserved edifying [[Sermon]]s of St. Andrew for certain of the Church feasts.  
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St. Andrew wrote many liturgical [[hymn]]s. He was the originator of a new liturgical form—the [[canon]]. Of the canons composed by him the best known is the [[Great Canon|Great Penitential Canon]], including within its 9 odes the 250 [[troparion|troparia]] recited during the [[Great Lent]]. In the First Week of Lent at the service of [[Compline]] it is read in portions (thus called "methymony") and again on Thursday of the Fifth Week at the [[All-Night Vigil]] during [[Matins]].
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 +
St. Andrew of Crete gained renown with his many praises of the [[Theotokos|All-Pure Virgin Mary]]. To him are likewise ascribed: the Canon for the feast of the [[Nativity]] of Christ, three odes for the Compline of [[Palm Sunday]] and also in the first four days of Holy [[Passion Week]], as well as verses for the feast of the [[Meeting of the Lord]], and many another church-song. His hymnographic tradition was continued by the churchly great melodists of following ages: Saints [[John of Damascus]], [[Cosmas the Hymnographer|Cosmas of Maium]], [[Joseph the Hymnographer|Joseph the Melodist]], [[Theophanes the Confessor|Theophanes the Branded]]. There have also been preserved edifying [[sermon]]s of St. Andrew for certain of the Church feasts.
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Church historians are not of the same opinion as to the date of death of the saint. One suggests the year 712, while others the year 726. He died on the island of Mytilene, while returning to Crete from Constantinople, where he had been on churchly business. His [[relics]] were transferred to Constantinople. In the year 1350 the pious Russian pilgrim Stefan Novgorodets saw the relics at the Constantinople monastery named for St. Andrew of Crete.
  
Church historians are not of the same opinion as to the date of death of the saint. One suggests the year 712, while others—the year 726. He died on the island of Mytilene, while returning to Crete from Constantinople, where he had been on churchly business. His [[relics]] were transferred to Constantinople. In the year 1350 the pious Russian pilgrim Stefan Novgorodets saw the relics at the Constantinople monastery named for St. Andrew of Crete. His feast is on [[July 4]].
 
 
==Hymns==
 
==Hymns==
[[Troparion]] (Tone 5)
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[[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 5)
:Like the Prophet David
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:Like the [[Prophet]] [[David]]
 
:You sang a new song
 
:You sang a new song
 
:In the assembly of the righteous.
 
:In the assembly of the righteous.
:As an initiate of the Holy Spirit
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:As an initiate of the [[Holy Spirit]]
 
:You thundered forth your hymns of grace
 
:You thundered forth your hymns of grace
 
:And the word of righteousness for our salvation,
 
:And the word of righteousness for our salvation,
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:You sounded forth divine melodies like a trumpet
 
:You sounded forth divine melodies like a trumpet
 
:And were a bright lamp for the world.
 
:And were a bright lamp for the world.
:You shone with the light of the Trinity, O righteous Andrew.
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:You shone with the light of the [[Trinity]], O righteous Andrew.
 
:Therefore we cry to you: Ever intercede for us all!
 
:Therefore we cry to you: Ever intercede for us all!
==Sources==
 
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101893 www.oca.org - Lives of Saints, July 4.]
 
  
==External Link==
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==Source==
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*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=101894 St Andrew the Archbishop of Crete] ([[OCA]])
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==External links==
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*[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=109 Andrew of Crete Author of the Great Canon] ([[GOARCH]])
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*[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=July&day=4 Saint Andrew, Archbishop of Crete] (''[[Prologue of Ohrid]]'')
 
*[http://comeandseeicons.com/a/sgp20.htm St. Andrew of Crete Icon and Story]
 
*[http://comeandseeicons.com/a/sgp20.htm St. Andrew of Crete Icon and Story]
  

Revision as of 17:01, February 25, 2008

St. Andrew of Crete

Our father among the saints Andrew, Archbishop of Crete, was Archbishop of Crete at the end of the 7th century and the beginning of the 8th. He was a true luminary of the Church, a great hierarch—a theologian, teacher and hymnographer, best known for writing the Great Canon. His feast day is celebrated on July 4.

Life

St. Andrew was born in the city of Damascus into a pious Christian family. Up until seven years of age the boy was mute and did not talk. However, after communing the Holy Mysteries of Christ he found the gift of speech and began to speak. And from that time the lad began earnestly to study Holy Scripture and the discipline of theology.

At fourteen years of age he went off to Jerusalem and there he accepted monastic tonsure at the monastery of St. Sava the Sanctified. St. Andrew led a strict and chaste life, he was meek and abstinent, such that all were amazed at his virtue and reasoning of mind. As a man of talent and known for his virtuous life, over the passage of time he came to be numbered among the Jerusalem clergy and was appointed a secretary for the Patriarchate—a writing clerk. In the year 680 the locum tenens of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, Theodore, included archdeacon Andrew among the representatives of the Holy City sent to the Sixth Ecumenical Council, and here the saint contended against heretical teachings, relying upon his profound knowledge of Orthodox doctrine. Shortly after the Council he was summoned back to Constantinople from Jerusalem and he was appointed archdeacon at the church of Hagia Sophia, the Wisdom of God. During the reign of the emperor Justinian II (685-695) St. Andrew was consecrated bishop of the city of Gortineia on the island of Crete.

St. Andrew wrote many liturgical hymns. He was the originator of a new liturgical form—the canon. Of the canons composed by him the best known is the Great Penitential Canon, including within its 9 odes the 250 troparia recited during the Great Lent. In the First Week of Lent at the service of Compline it is read in portions (thus called "methymony") and again on Thursday of the Fifth Week at the All-Night Vigil during Matins.

St. Andrew of Crete gained renown with his many praises of the All-Pure Virgin Mary. To him are likewise ascribed: the Canon for the feast of the Nativity of Christ, three odes for the Compline of Palm Sunday and also in the first four days of Holy Passion Week, as well as verses for the feast of the Meeting of the Lord, and many another church-song. His hymnographic tradition was continued by the churchly great melodists of following ages: Saints John of Damascus, Cosmas of Maium, Joseph the Melodist, Theophanes the Branded. There have also been preserved edifying sermons of St. Andrew for certain of the Church feasts.

Church historians are not of the same opinion as to the date of death of the saint. One suggests the year 712, while others the year 726. He died on the island of Mytilene, while returning to Crete from Constantinople, where he had been on churchly business. His relics were transferred to Constantinople. In the year 1350 the pious Russian pilgrim Stefan Novgorodets saw the relics at the Constantinople monastery named for St. Andrew of Crete.

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 5)

Like the Prophet David
You sang a new song
In the assembly of the righteous.
As an initiate of the Holy Spirit
You thundered forth your hymns of grace
And the word of righteousness for our salvation,
O Andrew, glory of the fathers.

Kontakion (Tone 2)

You sounded forth divine melodies like a trumpet
And were a bright lamp for the world.
You shone with the light of the Trinity, O righteous Andrew.
Therefore we cry to you: Ever intercede for us all!

Source

External links