Saint Andrew, The First Called
The Church's season of Advent begins with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle.
From St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Dallas Texas:
"First-Called Apostle of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ, thou high follower of the Church, most praiseworthy Andrew!
We laud and glorify his apostolic labours, we lovingly commemorate his blessed coming to Christ, we revere his honourable sufferings which he bore for Christ.
We honour his holy memory, and firmly believe that the Lord lived, and that thus his soul lives as well, and that he remains with Christ for all ages in heaven, where he has the same love for us as when he, in the Holy Spirit, foresaw our conversion to Christ; and he not only loved us, but prays also for us unto God, seeing all our needs in His light.
Thus we believe and this our faith we confess, O Saint Andrew, and believing, we ask and pray our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ that He may grant us sinners all those things needful unto our salvation.
And that as you Andrew, according to your Lord's voice, did promptly leave your nets and follow Him unwaveringly, each of us might seek not that which is his own, but think rather of the profit of his neighbor and his higher calling.
We have hope in your prayers, which avail much before our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom belongeth all glory, honour and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, unto ages of ages."
Amen.
posted by MM at 11:41 AM
<< Home