WE don’t know what he looked like, there are very few mentions of him in scripture and we have to share him with Russia, Greece, Romania and Barbados. However, St Andrew has long been Scotland’s patron saint and the Saltires we proudly fly commemorate his martyrdom.
St Andrew’s Day, on November 30, is the date on which he is said to have been put to death in 60AD, and this year Scots are being asked to mark it in a special way. People are being asked to do a good deed on St Andrew’s Day to celebrate Scotland’s history and culture, and the nation’s shared values as exem-plified by our patron who was by legend an all-round good guy.
The #BeLikeStAndrew campaign marks the start of Scotland’s Winter Festivals, celebrating St Andrew’s Day, Hogmanay and Burns Night.
The festivals include events and activities across the country highlighting the best of music, arts and entertainment.
Charity partners Princes Trust Scotland, Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland and Crisis Scotland, have joined the Scottish Rugby Union and porridge firm Stoats to back the campaign.
The National’s resident historian Hamish MacPherson explained why there is a long association between St Andrew and Scotland. He said: “Andrew was the first apostle to be summoned by Jesus Christ and he duly fetched his brother Peter who, of course, became the first leader of Christianity. The Gospels are pretty confused about who was called first but St John was actually there and his account is the one most relied on.
“The tradition in the Orthodox Church, where Andrew is venerated, is that he was martyred for his faith in Greece after he preached the Gospel across Eastern Europe. He asked to be crucified on an X-shaped cross as he felt unworthy to be martyred in the same way that Christ died.
“The Scottish connection came about because, according to legend, St Regulus, also known as St Rule, brought holy relics of St Andrew to the place that is named after him in Fife in the seventh or eighth century.
“Other sources say the relics were brought north by Acca, bishop of Hexham, who founded a diocese at St Andrews in the 730s.
“However it happened, St Andrews became a place of pilgrimage, especially after the Battle of Athelstaneford in East Lothian in 832 AD when King Oengus II is reputed to have prayed to St Andrew for help to beat the invading Angles.
“The king of the joint army of Picts and Scots saw an X-shaped cloud formation in the sky and the result was never in doubt after that – Oengus adopted the Saltire as his flag and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Launching the #BeLikeStAndrew initiative in Edinburgh, International Development and Europe Minister, Alasdair Allan, said: “St Andrew was known for being strong, sociable and fair, encouraging people to share what they had with those in need.
“Celebrating St Andrew’s Day presents a powerful opportunity for people across Scotland to keep the spirit of St Andrew alive.”
Helen Keenan of Princes Trust Scotland said: “As part of the campaign we are encouraging people to become e-mentors with The Princes Trust. It is a great way to help make Scotland a more inclusive society just like St Andrew might have done if he were around today.”
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