St Andrew's Day: How did a fisherman from the Sea of ​​Galilee become Scotland's patron saint? St. Andrew's Day - the patron saint of Scotland: history and traditions of the holiday Theories of the connection between Andrew and Scotland

Saint Andrew, patron saint of Scotland

Saint Andrew was one of the 12 apostles, disciples of Jesus Christ. And before that, he was a fisherman in Galilee, like his brother Peter.

After the death of Christ, the first missionaries - the apostles - began to convert pagans to the Christian faith.

St. Andrew preached Christianity in Asia Minor, Greece and Scythia.

Roman Kravchuk

Holy All-praised Apostle Andrew the First-Called

erects a cross on the Kyiv mountains

An ancient legend says that the beginning of Christian preaching in Rus' was laid by the Apostle Andrew. Scientists are still arguing about its truth. Tradition tells that St. Andrew preached the Gospel to the Dnieper mountains, on which Kyiv later arose, and installed a cross there.

Then the apostle climbed up the Dnieper, reached Novgorod and returned back to Rome. About the visit to Novgorod in the chronicle there is only one mention of the custom of the Novgorodians to take a steam bath in the baths, which surprised the apostle.

It is believed that in 62 AD. St. Andrew was captured by Roman legionaries in the Greek city of Patras (Patras), and suffered martyrdom on the cross. According to legend, Andrei asked the authorities who sentenced him to execution not for mercy, but only that his cross, intended for crucifixion, should not be similar to the cross of the Savior, since he considered himself unworthy to end his life exactly like his Teacher. Therefore, Andrew the First-Called was crucified on an oblique cross resembling the letter “X,” which went down in history under the name “St. Andrew’s cross.” For two days Andrei hung on the cross, teaching the townspeople the Christian faith.

Bartolomeo Esteban Murillo

The Suffering of St. Andrew

His remains were kept in the monastery until the mid-4th century AD, when Emperor Constantine ordered the relics of the saint to be transported to Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

The keeper of the holy relics was the Greek monk St. Regulus. At night an angel appeared to him and ordered him to take his relics far away, to the ends of the world. He did just that - he took the relics across all of Europe, to Caledonia, for this was the farthest corner of the Roman Empire. In those days it was a wild land, inhabited by cruel and unruly Celtic tribes.

The burial place of the holy relics became a place of pilgrimage for all Christians who inhabited Scotland, and over time it was called the city of St. Andrew (St. Andrews), which turned into the religious center of Scotland, and the saint himself became the heavenly patron of the Scots and Picts. And to this day, Apostle Andrew is considered the patron saint of Scotland, although all his activities took place quite far from the shores of this country.

St Andrews

The continuation of this story is associated with the Pictish king Aengus II. The most famous Pictish king (from the time before McAlpine), Angus McFergus conquered neighboring Dal Riada and for a time both countries merged into a single state.

According to legend, in 832, the united army of Picts and Scots under the leadership of King Aengus was surrounded by an army of Angles under the command of King Athelstan.

Neither the king nor his army were sure of the outcome of the upcoming battle. Angus earnestly prayed all night to God and the saints so that the Scots would be granted victory, and when he fell asleep, he saw the Apostle Andrew, who promised his help. The next day, before the start of the battle, the warriors saw above them in the blue sky a cloud in the form of an oblique cross.

This spectacle so inspired the Picts and Scots and terrified their opponents that the Angles were defeated, and their leader King Athelstan died during the retreat. And Angus II made the oblique cross the national symbol of his country.

But it was only after Robert the Bruce's famous victory over the English at Bannockbarn in 1314 that Saint Andrew was officially proclaimed Guardian of Scotland.

However, it is not entirely clear why in the 9th century King Athelstan from southern England moved north through the possessions of the King of Notumbria to fight the Scots... But one way or another, today nearby, in sight of the battle site, in an ancient building of the 16th century The Scottish Flag Museum is located (the Flag Heritage Centre).

Scottish Flag Museum

Despite the biblical past of St. Andrew, all-Scottish recognition did not come to him immediately, since by the time his cult grew in different parts of the country, the population had already worshiped different Christian saints. In the first centuries, the cult of St. Andrew coexisted mainly among the Picts, although later his image was used by King Constantine II to form a single nation from the Picts and Scots.

King David I of Scots, who lived in the first half of the 12th century, actively advocated for the city of St. Andrews, then an episcopal center, to become an archbishopric of Scotland. The huge cathedral, whose construction began in 1160, was supposed to be larger in size than the cathedrals of Canterbury and York, which lay claim to governing the Scottish Church. Construction took place over 150 years, right up to 1318. Alas, during the Reformation the cathedral was completely destroyed. Its size can be judged from the preserved nave and ruins - its length was 100 meters.

The relics of St. Andrew are kept in St. Andrews and Edinburgh, or at least part of them.

St Andrew's Cathedral in St Andrews

How did it happen that the name of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called was associated with Scotland, although Andrey himself had never been to those parts? There are two versions on this matter. The first is more legendary than the second. These are the events that took place according to the first. In 345, the Roman emperor (legend names the name of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine I the Great, but this is a gross historical mistake, for Constantine died in 337) ordered the transfer of the relics of the apostle from the city of Patras (where he suffered martyrdom) to Constantinople. An angel appeared to a certain holy monk Regulus in a vision and ordered him to take a piece of the relics and take it to the “ends of the earth.” After spending a long time wandering, Regulus came to the territory of modern Scotland, to the lands that are still called Fife. The legend tells that he was warmly received by the local king of the Picts, successfully preached the Gospel to the local residents and placed the relics of the Holy Apostle in the area where he later
the city of St. Andrews arose.

The Church of St Regulus in St Andrews Fife, built in the 11th century to house the relics of the legendary saint.

According to the second, more plausible version, in the 7th century, St. Wilfrid the Great, when he was the bishop of Hexema (the diocese of Hexema also included part of the Scottish lands), during his next trip to Rome, brought a particle of the relics of the Holy Apostle to his diocese. Alternatively, Saint Akka of Hexem could have brought the relics. Subsequently, the relic was presented as a gift to the king of the Scots, Angus MacFergus, who, in honor of this significant event, founded the city of St. Andrews. It is not known exactly which Angus it was - Angus I or Angus II. The same legend says that during the invasion of Scotland by a foreign army (possibly an army of the Angles or Vikings), King Angus asked for intercession and help from the Lord and St. Andrew. And the Lord helped the pious king through the prayers of St. Andrew: when the two armies met on the battlefield, suddenly a sign appeared in the sky - white clouds in the azure sky formed into the X-shaped cross of St. Andrew (Saltire). Inspired by the sign, the Scottish warriors rushed towards the enemy and won a decisive victory. After such a significant event, King Angus declared St. Andrew the patron saint of Scotland and ordered that the St. Andrew's Cross be considered the state symbol of the country. Skeptics, however, say that this event is just a beautiful historical legend that appeared no earlier than the 12th century. Be that as it may, the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 proclaimed St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called the heavenly patron of Scotland for all eternity. And in 1385, during the reign of Emperor Robert II Stuart, Saltire was approved as the national flag of the country. And of course, these events became possible, not least thanks to ancient legends about St. Andrew’s patronage of the Scottish land.

Based on materials posted on the website of historian David Nash Ford.

P.S. It is very, very likely that the Scottish flag served as a model for the St. Andrew's flag of the Russian fleet. It is believed that Tsar Peter the Great, during his visit to Britain, really liked this Scottish symbol, and he borrowed it for use in Russia, changing only the color of the oblique cross and the background on which the cross is located.

And yet - until recently, I believed that the Confederate battle flag also had its origins in the Scottish flag. Well, there are many descendants of Scottish emigrants in America and they could have introduced symbols of their historical homeland into American heraldry. But, as the English-language Wiki narrates, most likely the Confederate traces its origins to the Burgundy Cross, which was a symbol of Florida, one of the states of the Confederacy. And Florida borrowed this symbol from the Spaniards, who once owned this land. Well, the Spaniards, in turn, borrowed the Burgudian Cross from Burgundy, whose heavenly patron is also Saint Andrew the First-Called.

Despite the image of prim ladies and gentlemen that has developed in the world, the British also love to relax and celebrate their national holidays. Getting to know the culture and history of the country of Elizabeth II, as well as understanding the mentality of the royal nation, is impossible without British celebrations. Let's look at the main ones. We are ready. Are you?

Initially, UK public holidays and public holidays should be separated. Not every festival will be a day off, and not every day off will be a holiday. By the way, in Russia there are also a number of celebrations that we celebrate with pleasure, although the state does not allow us to take a break from work.

Bank holidays in Britain are called Bank holidays, because neither banks nor other official bodies work these days:

Northern Ireland has two additional holidays per year: St. Patrick's Day(March 17) - St. Patrick's Day and " Battle of the Boyne» Celebration(July 12) - Anniversary of the momentous Battle of the Boyne. The Scots rest for 2 days in honor of the New Year (January 1-2) and have an additional day off in honor of St. Andrew's Day ( St. Andrew's Day) November 30th, who is their patron saint.

No less significant are other holidays in the UK, which, however, require presence at the workplace:

Read more about holidays in England

Holidays such as Christmas, April Fool's Day or Halloween in the UK have become widespread in the CIS countries. But let's take a closer look at those English holidays that have no analogues in the post-Soviet space.

• Burns Night- anniversary of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Scottish culture blooms in all its colors on this day: men dress in traditional checkered kilts, the sounds of bagpipes are heard, and at the festive table you can try the national dish of lamb offal with lard, onions and seasonings, cooked in a lamb stomach - haggies.

• Queen's Birthday(monarch) - according to documents, Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, but since the mid-18th century it has been customary to celebrate the ruler’s name day separately from the real date of birth. Since the beginning of the 20th century, this day has been celebrated in June so that the warm summer hours, which are rare for Foggy Albion, do not go to waste. Traditionally, such holidays in London are accompanied by a military parade, which is always attended by the royal family.

• Beltane- a holiday of fire, light and the beginning of summer. Beltane's second name is Walpurgis Night. It is customary to light fires and jump over them to undergo purification. Those who have livestock spend it between lit fires and animals.
• Eistetvod and Fringe- the largest festivals of songs, dances and other arts in Europe. These days, representatives of a wide variety of nationalities come to Edinburgh to perform on one of the many open-air stages.
• Bonfire Night celebrated in honor of not the most rosy event in British history. In 1605, on the night of November 5th, Guy Fawkes (leader of the Gunpowder Plot) tried to blow up the London House of Parliament in order to destroy King James I. The cause of disagreement was religion, since James I was a Protestant, and members of the Gunpowder Plot were Catholics who wanted to see the power of only a Catholic monarch. Fortunately, the explosion of the powder barrels in the basement was prevented, Guy Fawkes was captured and executed, and after that, every November 5th, the people of Great Britain organize a large-scale fireworks display and burn an effigy symbolizing Guy Fawkes.

• IN Remembrance Day in the UK honor the memory of soldiers who died in the First World War. The symbol of the holiday is a red poppy, which is threaded into the buttonhole of a jacket. Poppy petals bloom on the chest, symbolizing wounds received in battle. John McCrae, a Canadian physician and poet, celebrated the beauty of this flower and its connection to warfare in his poem "In Flanders Fields." On this day, it is customary to lay flowers at military monuments, and at 11 o’clock on November 11, in many Commonwealth countries it is customary to observe a minute of silence.

Christmas For the British it is a more important holiday than New Year. It is celebrated on November 25 according to Catholic traditions associated with the difference between the Gregorian and church calendars. People carefully prepare for this day: they decorate houses, decorate the Christmas tree, and select gifts for family and friends. It is customary to hold night services in churches, as well as theatrical performances on religious themes.

St. Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day is already firmly rooted in our community. Traditionally, on the Day of Love, February 14, it is customary to send cards in the shape of hearts - Valentine's cards, as well as secretly confess your feelings. According to legend, St. Valentin was an ordinary priest and field doctor who secretly married lovers in cruel war times. The fact is that the government believed that a single man would fight better on the battlefield, since his heart would not be drawn home to his family, his beloved wife and children. Therefore, military personnel were forbidden to marry. And Saint Valentine, sympathizing with the young people, tied them in marriage, for which he was captured and imprisoned. There he met the warden's daughter and fell in love with her, but could not admit his feelings. When the time for execution approached, Valentin decided to confess and wrote a love letter to his beloved, which she read after the execution on February 14, 269.

Halloween Initially, it was not celebrated for the sake of collecting candy and scary costumes. Historically, the holiday is based on the Celtic rite of Samhain and the Christian All Saints' Day. It is on October 31, according to popular belief, that the line between our world and the other world becomes especially thin. This allows creatures from the afterlife to penetrate us and drag away the living with them. To prevent the spirits from touching them, the Celts put on scary masks and turned off the lights in their homes, which attracted ghosts. Nowadays, costume parties are more entertaining in nature, and children “carol” around the neighbors, begging for sweets with the words “trick or treat.” If you don’t treat the restless little ones with something sweet, they may well play some mischief - litter the house with toilet paper, hide garden gnomes, or stain the railings with molasses.

Conclusion

Some of the English holidays are very similar to ours. For example, New Year, Christmas or Easter. Others vaguely resemble our celebrations, but are based on completely different historical events (compare the English Bonfire Night and our Maslenitsa). The British also have their own traditions that have no analogues in our culture.

Study the rituals and traditions of Great Britain using our website, or even better, go to England and see everything with your own eyes!

Happy upcoming holidays and celebrations!

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

One of the most famous symbols of Scotland is St. Andrew, who has been considered one of the Christian patrons of this country for quite a long time. And every year on November 30 in Scotland they celebrate St. Andrew's Day, a religious and national holiday of the Scots.

Saint Andrew the First-Called

At the moment, Saint Andrew is the patron of several countries:

• Scotland,
• Russia,
• Greece,
• Romania.

Apostle Andrew was one of the first helpers of Jesus Christ, his disciple. According to the chronicles, Saint Andrew was engaged in preaching activities in the Slavic lands and accepted his martyrdom on the cross in Greece.
The unusual shape of the cross of St. Andrew used on the flag of Scotland is most often attributed to the legend surrounding his death. According to legend, Andrei asked the authorities who sentenced him to death not for pardon, but only that his cross intended for crucifixion should not look like the cross of the Savior. Thus, since the authorities went to meet him, Andrew the First-Called was crucified on an oblique cross resembling the letter “X,” which went down in history under the name “St. Andrew’s cross.”

When is St. Andrew's Day celebrated?

The main part of the holiday takes place in the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, and includes events such as:

• raising national flags (on the Forth Road Bridge),
• mass celebrations,
• concerts of folk and national music,
• traditional dance performances,

St Andrew's Day and Scotland

Read also:

Valentine's Day is celebrated in most countries of the world. And each country has developed its own small traditions regarding this holiday. How is Valentine's Day celebrated in Scotland?

In order to better understand the characteristics of a particular country, it is necessary to study its traditions and national characteristics, the most important of which are local holidays, as a reflection of ancient beliefs, significant events for the people, as well as interesting cultural differences. Scotland's holidays are a vibrant cultural mix of specific commemorations (including the birthday of the Great Scottish Poet), traditional Celtic celebrations (including Walpurgis Night) and other unexpected events.

The dancing of Scotland is another of the folk traditions of this country, which, apparently, is never destined to be forgotten! At least considering how the Scots themselves honor and study the peculiarities of their culture. Every year in Edinburgh in July, a separate ethnic festival “Dunedin Folk International Dance Festival” is held, dedicated directly to the Scottish dance tradition, where everyone can demonstrate their art, their capabilities and abilities.

In honor of the day of the heavenly protector of Scotland, the country of “unicorn and heather” annually organizes nationwide celebrations with a bright national flavor.

St. Andrew's Day, which the descendants of the Picts and Celts call Saunt Andra's Day, is one of the most important national festivals in Scotland, along with and. This Catholic holiday acquired such significance here due to the fact that the Apostle Andrew has been considered the heavenly patron of Scotland since ancient times. The symbol of the saint, the St. Andrew's Cross, even formed the basis of the Scottish flag and became one of the most recognizable state symbols.Today, St. Andrew's Day marks the beginning of the season of major winter holidays in Scotland.

According to historical chronicles, the date of November 30 in the country of the Brave Heart began to be widely celebrated as a holiday back in the 11th century. The celebration received official state recognition in 2006, when the Scottish Parliament approved St. Andrew's Day as a “bank holiday.” This is the only holiday of the year when the British Union Jack above government offices is replaced by the Scottish flag featuring the St. Andrew's Cross or Saltire. The oldest educational institution in Scotland, the University of St. Andrews, traditionally celebrates the feast of its patron saint by providing students with an extra day of rest.

The main celebrations of St. Andrew's Day in Scotland take place in the capital Edinburgh. On this day, the city becomes the scene of massive public festivities, the leitmotif of which is the glorification of traditional Scottish culture through music, dance performances and gastronomic events. The largest celebration of St Andrew's Day can be observed in the ancient city of St. Andrews on the east coast of Scotland, where, according to legend, the relics of the apostle are kept. Celebrations here span a week and include exciting events such as a street parade featuring the town's pipe band, St Andrew's Day Dinner, the Savour St Andrews food festival, ceilidh dance parties, concerts, exhibitions and free tourist excursions around the area. city.