St Andrew the First-Called Apostle

St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle Feast Day and Greek Name Day

St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle is honored in the Orthodox Christian Church as one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the first disciple called to follow Him. His feast day is celebrated on November 30, and on this day people named Andrew, Andreas, Andre, Andreas, Andri, Androulla, and Andriana, among other variations, celebrate their Greek name day.

Who Was St. Andrew the Apostle

St. Andrew was originally a fisherman from Bethsaida in Galilee and the brother of St. Peter the Apostle.

He was first a disciple of John the Baptist, but when he encountered Jesus, he immediately recognized Him as the Messiah and chose to follow Him.

Because Andrew was the first of the apostles to be called, he became known as “the First-Called.”

Bringing Others to Christ

One of the most notable moments in the Gospel accounts is when Andrew brought his brother Simon Peter to meet Jesus.

This act reflects Andrew’s role as someone who helped lead others to Christ, a theme that continues to be associated with his legacy.

Missionary Work

After the Resurrection of Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, St. Andrew traveled widely to spread the Christian faith.

According to Christian tradition, he preached in regions around the Black Sea, Asia Minor, and parts of Greece, helping establish early Christian communities.

Greek Name Day for Andrew

Because St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle is commemorated on November 30, this date is also the Greek name day for:

Andrew

Andreas

Andre

Andri

Andriana

Androulla

In Greek culture, celebrating a name day is often just as important as celebrating a birthday. Friends and family commonly offer well wishes or visits to honor the person whose name is being celebrated.

When St. Andrew Is Celebrated

The feast of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle is observed each year on November 30 in the Greek Orthodox Church. The day commemorates the apostle who was the first disciple called by Christ and who later helped spread Christianity across many regions of the ancient world.