Saint Andrew the Apostle, or simply St Andrew, was Jesus Christ’s first disciple. He preached the teachings of Jesus around the globe before being crucified in Greece on 30 November 60 AD.
St Andrew is commonly associated with Scotland: Andrew died by crucifixion on an X-shaped cross, which is now represented by the white cross of the Scottish flag. But the saint’s significance stretches far beyond Scottish shores.
One connection between Scotland and St Andrew reportedly occurred in 832 AD when King Angus II led his army of Picts and Scots against Athelstan’s Saxons in modern-day East Lothian. Outnumbered and pessimistic, Angus prayed for help, vowing to make St Andrew patron saint of Scotland if his army was victorious.
On the morning of battle, clouds formed in a saltire shape in the sky. This perceived divine intervention inspired the Pict-Scot army who overcame their enemy and killed Athelstan. Angus is then said to have honoured his vow.
The formalisation of St Andrew as Scotland’s patron saint followed from the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath. Written by Scottish barons to Pope John XXII who had excommunicated Robert the Bruce, the letter is both a declaration of Scotland’s independence from England and a commitment to Christ.
The letter states the belief that “the most gentle Saint Andrew” would keep Scots “under his protection as their patron for ever”. Andrew’s brother being St Peter, the leader of the Roman Catholic church, held huge sway over Pope John XXII.
St Andrew was commonly depicted in Scottish iconography long before the country’s national flag was created in his honour. He was featured on official seals from 1180 onwards, notably the seals of the Guardians of Scotland who ruled over the country in the absence of a king during the Scottish Wars of Independence in 1286.
Just under a century later, in 1385, the Parliament of Scotland insisted Scottish soldiers should distinguish themselves with a white saltire on a blue background. Since then, this has been Scotland’s national flag.
A day dedicated to St Andrew was only established in the mid-18th century, and surprisingly it was neither instigated in Scotland nor any other place who claimed St Andrew as their patron saint.
In 1729, a group of wealthy Scottish ex-pats set up the St Andrew’s Society of Charleston in South Carolina, USA, and celebrated St Andrew’s Day on 30 November, the anniversary of his crucifixion. The St Andrew’s Society of the State of New York then helped popularise the day from 1756 onwards.
"10 Facts about St. Andrew"
St Andrew is commonly associated with Scotland: Andrew died by crucifixion on an X-shaped cross, which is now represented by the white cross of the Scottish flag. But the saint’s significance stretches far beyond Scottish shores.
One connection between Scotland and St Andrew reportedly occurred in 832 AD when King Angus II led his army of Picts and Scots against Athelstan’s Saxons in modern-day East Lothian. Outnumbered and pessimistic, Angus prayed for help, vowing to make St Andrew patron saint of Scotland if his army was victorious.
On the morning of battle, clouds formed in a saltire shape in the sky. This perceived divine intervention inspired the Pict-Scot army who overcame their enemy and killed Athelstan. Angus is then said to have honoured his vow.
The formalisation of St Andrew as Scotland’s patron saint followed from the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath. Written by Scottish barons to Pope John XXII who had excommunicated Robert the Bruce, the letter is both a declaration of Scotland’s independence from England and a commitment to Christ.
The letter states the belief that “the most gentle Saint Andrew” would keep Scots “under his protection as their patron for ever”. Andrew’s brother being St Peter, the leader of the Roman Catholic church, held huge sway over Pope John XXII.
St Andrew was commonly depicted in Scottish iconography long before the country’s national flag was created in his honour. He was featured on official seals from 1180 onwards, notably the seals of the Guardians of Scotland who ruled over the country in the absence of a king during the Scottish Wars of Independence in 1286.
Just under a century later, in 1385, the Parliament of Scotland insisted Scottish soldiers should distinguish themselves with a white saltire on a blue background. Since then, this has been Scotland’s national flag.
A day dedicated to St Andrew was only established in the mid-18th century, and surprisingly it was neither instigated in Scotland nor any other place who claimed St Andrew as their patron saint.
In 1729, a group of wealthy Scottish ex-pats set up the St Andrew’s Society of Charleston in South Carolina, USA, and celebrated St Andrew’s Day on 30 November, the anniversary of his crucifixion. The St Andrew’s Society of the State of New York then helped popularise the day from 1756 onwards.
"10 Facts about St. Andrew"