Difference between revisions of "Andrew the Fool-for-Christ"

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Blessed '''Andrew the Fool-for-Christ''' was a Slav who lived in Constantinople during the tenth century.  He is commemorated by the Church on [[October 2]].
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==Life==
 
Blessed Andrew loved God's Church and the Holy [[Scripture]]s and he had a strong desire to devote himself totally to [[God]].  He took upon himself a very difficult and unusual [[ascetic]] feat of [[fool-for-Christ]]; that is, he acted as if he were insane.
 
 
 
Seeming to be insane, Andrew was brought to the St. Anastasia Church for his care. There St. [[Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions|Anastasia]] appeared to him in a dream and encouraged him to continue his ascetic feat.  He was driven off the church property because of his faked madness and had to live on the streets of the capital city, hungry and half-naked. For many years the saint endured mockery, insults, and beatings. He begged for [[alms]] and gave them away to the poor.  The beggars to whom he gave his last coins despised him, but St. Andrew endured all his sufferings humbly and [[prayer|prayed]] for those who hurt him.
 
 
 
St. Andrew's holy wisdom and extraordinary spiritual beauty were revealed when he removed his mask of folly. This occurred when talking to his [[spiritual father]], a [[presbyter]] of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] Church, or to his [[disciple]] Epiphanus.
 
 
 
For his meekness and self-control, the saint received from the Lord the gifts of [[prophecy]] and wisdom, saving many from spiritual perils. Like the [[apostle Paul]], he was taken to the third sky and had the honor of seeing Lord [[Jesus Christ]] himself, [[angels]] and many holy [[saints]], yet he was surprised not to see the Most Holy Virgin.
 
 
 
While praying at the Blachernae church, it was St. Andrew who, with his [[disciple]], the Blessed Epiphanius, saw the [[Theotokos|Most Holy Mother of God]], holding her veil over those praying [[Protection of the Mother of God|under her Protection]]. The Church [[synaxarion]] states that upon seeing this vision, St. Andrew turned to his companion and asked: "Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos, praying for all the world?" Epiphanius answered, "I do see, holy Father, and I am in awe." 
 
 
 
Blessed Andrew died in the year 936 at the age of 66.
 
 
 
==Hymns==
 
[[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 4) [http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints/andrew_foolish.htm]
 
:Thou didst choose foolishness for the sake of Christ
 
:And didst make the crafty one foolish.
 
:Thou didst persevere with thy struggle in the midst of turmoil,
 
:And Christ has brought thee to paradise.
 
:[[intercession|Intercede]] with Him, O Andrew for those who honor thee.
 
 
Another Troparion  (Tone 1) [http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints/andrew_foolish.htm]
 
:For thy sake, O Christ, thy servant Andrew became a fool on earth.
 
:He heard the Apostle Paul proclaiming,
 
:'We are fools for the sake of Christ.'
 
:As we now honor his memory we pray thee to save our souls.
 
 
 
[[Kontakion]] (Tone 1) [http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints/andrew_foolish.htm]
 
:Thou didst finish thy life in piety, O godly-minded Andrew,
 
:Thou wast a pure vessel of the [[Trinity]] and a companion of the Angels.
 
:May peace and forgiveness be granted, through thine intercession,
 
:To those who honor thee.
 
 
 
Another Kontakion (Tone 4) [http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints/andrew_foolish.htm]
 
:Of thine own free will thou didst become a Fool, O Andrew,
 
:And utterly hate the lures of this world.
 
:Thou didst deaden carnal wisdom through hunger and thirst,
 
:Through heat and bitter frost.
 
:By never avoiding the hardships of weather thou didst purify thyself as gold in the furnace.
 
 
 
==External links==
 
*[http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints/andrew_foolish.htm Andrew, Fool-for-Christ-sake]
 
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=102838 Blessed Andrew the Fool-For-Christ at Constantinople] ([[OCA]])
 
*[http://www.unicorne.org/orthodoxy/2005/light3.htm Light from the Saints] - Blessed Andrew the Fool-For-Christ at Constantinople
 
*[http://www.mgr.org/TheVeil.html The Miracle of the Virgin Mary at the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople on 911 AD]
 
 
 
[[Category:Fools-for-Christ]]
 
[[Category:Saints]]
 

Revision as of 11:04, June 10, 2008

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