Strong prayers to the Apostle Andrew the First-Called: what is asked for on the saint's memorial day

The Apostle Andrew the First-called is considered one of the closest disciples of Jesus Christ and the first to respond to his call. In the Christian tradition, he is revered as a preacher who brought faith to the shores of the Black Sea and blessed the lands of the future Russia. His memory is celebrated on December 13, and prayers are addressed to the saint for spiritual support, help in matters and strengthening faith. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

Who is the Apostle Andrew the First-Called

The Apostle Andrew the First—Called is one of the key figures of early Christian history and a revered saint in the Orthodox Church. According to the Gospels, Andrew was originally from Bethsaida, engaged in fishing and, together with his brother Simon (the future apostle Peter), followed Jesus when he began his ministry.

It was Andrew, according to the Gospel of John, who was the first of the disciples to follow Christ at the call, for which he received the title of the First-Called.

In the church tradition, he is credited with preaching in the territories of Asia Minor, Scythia and on the northern shores of the Black Sea.

Modern Orthodox publications and church encyclopedias also note the close connection of Andrew's image with the history of the Christianization of Russia: according to legend, he visited the lands where Russia later arose and blessed these lands, which formed the basis for veneration of the saint as one of the apostolic enlighteners of Russia.

St. Andrew the First-Called Memorial Day in 2025

The Memorial Day of St. Andrew the First-Called in the Russian Orthodox Church is celebrated annually on December 13 (according to the new style). In church calendars and Orthodox reference books, this date is recorded as the day of remembrance of his feat and ministry.

Solemn divine services are held in a number of parishes, troparion and kontakion are read, akathists and special petitions are performed.

In 2025, the apostle's memory also falls on December 13. This date remains stable in the church calendar and is accompanied by traditional liturgical texts and folk customs, including those related to the folk traditions of St. Andrew's Day. For believers, this day serves as an occasion to prayerfully ask for the help and intercession of the holy apostle.

What do they pray to the Apostle Andrew about?

In church practice, the apostle is approached with requests for help in family and community matters, for spiritual guidance and enlightenment, and for blessings on work and travel.

In the Russian tradition, Andrew the First-Called is perceived as the patron saint of missionary endeavors and the "first-called" witness of Christ, so believers turn to him and ask for help in strengthening faith, spiritual insight and support in difficult everyday circumstances.

Folk customs associated with this day in some places complement prayer practice with various rituals, but the official church line focuses on remembering the apostolic ministry and intercession with God through St. Andrew.

The main prayers to St. Andrew the First—Called include liturgical texts - the troparion and kontakion of the feast, as well as the akathist and short petitions used in private prayer practice.

The Troparion to the apostle, which is sung at divine services, glorifies him as the first follower of Christ and a supplicant for peace for the universe; kontakions and other church hymns reveal his missionary work and intercession before God. The Akathist to the Apostle Andrew is a more detailed prayer text consisting of kontakions and icons, which reproduces episodes of the saint's life, miracles and intercession for believers.

Basic prayers to the Apostle Andrew the First-Called

"To the first-called Apostle of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, supreme follower of the Church, to the all-laudable Andrew, we glorify and magnify your apostolic labors, we sweetly remember your blessed coming to us, we appease your honorable sufferings that you endured for Christ, we kiss your sacred relics, we honor your holy memory and believe that the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives, the Lord lives And your soul, and you are with Him forever in heaven, so that you may love us with the love that you loved us when you saw through the Holy Spirit our conversion to Christ, and not only love us, but also pray to God for us, for all our needs are in vain in His Light. This is how we believe and this is how we profess our faith in the temple, which was gloriously created in your name, Saint Andrew, where your holy relics rest; as believers, we ask and pray to our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, that through your prayers, who always listens and accepts, He may give us everything we need for our salvation. sinners; may you, as you have done according to the voice of the Lord, forsake your sins, and follow Him steadfastly, and let each one of us seek not his own, but his neighbor's creation, and let him think of a higher calling. Having you as our intercessor and prayer book for us, we trust that your prayer can do much before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom befits all glory, honor, and worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen to that.";

"Oh, the first-called apostle of God, the all-laudable Andrew! I pray to you, your servant (name), intercede for mercy from God and our Savior Jesus Christ, so that through your prayers He may grant me (the content of the petition) and the remission of all my sins. Amen to that."