Thursday, November 30, 2028
Liturgical Color: Red
Christ the King
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Christ the King
Through your only begotten Son Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords; for you have seated him at your right hand in glory, and put all things in subjection under his feet, that he may present them to you, O Father, perfectly restored in beauty, truth, and love.
Apostle and Martyr
Red Letter Day
Andrew was the first disciple called by Jesus and the brother of Simon Peter. He fished for a living in Galilee and had followed John the Baptist, before Jesus. Andrew recognized Jesus as the Messiah and immediately brought his brother to him — an act of introduction that defines his apostolic character throughout the Fourth Gospel. He is numbered among the Twelve in all four canonical lists.
Andrew and his brother Simon were fishermen from Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee (John 1:44). According to the Fourth Gospel, Andrew was first a disciple of John the Baptist. When the Baptist pointed to Jesus and declared 'Behold, the Lamb of God,' Andrew followed Jesus, spent the day with him, and then found Simon with the words: 'We have found the Messiah' (John 1:35–42). The Synoptic Gospels present a simpler call narrative: Jesus sees Andrew and Simon casting nets and says, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men' (Matthew 4:18–20; Mark 1:16–18).
Andrew appears in all four apostolic lists (Matthew 10:2, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14, Acts 1:13). In John's Gospel he has three significant scenes: bringing Peter to Jesus (1:40–42), identifying the boy with five barley loaves and two fish (6:8–9), and introducing the Greek seekers to Jesus alongside Philip (12:20–22). Each episode shows Andrew as a connector — the apostle who bridges the gap between seekers and the Lord.
After Pentecost, the canonical record falls silent about Andrew. His subsequent missionary activity and death depend entirely on later sources.
Traditionally, Andrew is said to have preached in Scythia (the regions around the Black Sea), Asia Minor, and Greece. According to the most widely attested tradition, he was martyred at Patras in Achaia, crucified on an X-shaped cross (the saltire or St. Andrew's Cross), reportedly at his own request, considering himself unworthy to die on a cross of the same shape as his Lord's. He is said to have preached from the cross for two days before dying. His relics were later translated to Constantinople, and veneration of the apostle became central to the Ecumenical Patriarchate's identity.
Psalms 144, 145, 146
Psalms 147, 148, 149, 150