Happy St. Andrew's Day! Andrew, was a disciple of John the Baptist, and was also the very first disciple that Jesus called. Andrew was a fisherman, and the brother of Peter. We read the story of his calling in John 1:35-40.
"The next day John (the Baptist) was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus."
Andrew is also the patron saint of Scotland. Per Christian tradition, Andrew went on to preach the Good News around the shores of the Black Sea and throughout what is now Greece and Turkey. Andrew was martyred by crucifixion in Patras. He was bound, rather than nailed, to a cross, as is described in the Acts of Andrew. He was crucified on a cross form known as "crux decussata," which is an X-shaped cross or a "saltire." Today this is commonly referred to as "St. Andrew's Cross." It is believed Andrew requested to be crucified this way, because he deemed himself unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross as Jesus.
Two of my grandparents have Scottish family roots. Their family names are Benge (unknown Clan) and Hutchinson (Clad MacDonald). I am one third Scottish (Scotch Irish) by blood. In honor of St. Andrew's Day, here is a link to one of my favorite Celtic rock bands, The Killdare's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLHwotVC7BY
