Saint Andrew

According to the New Testament, he was the first to be called by Christ to be an Apostle, which is why in the orthodox tradition he is often called “Protokletos”. He was one of the twelve Apostles of Christ. New Testament information is minimal for Andrew and non-existent for his apostolic work. Ecclesiastical writers report that the Apostle Andrew preached Christianity in Scythia (present-day South Russia), Epirus, Thrace and Byzantium, where he founded a church with Stachy as the first bishop. Continuation of this first church is considered the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which honors the Apostle Andrew as its founder and first bishop of Byzantium. Apostolos Andreas is the patron saint of Patras and is celebrated on November 30.