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Feast of
Saint Andrew's
Sunday,
30th
November 2003
Sunday
Evening, a procession was held from Ghajnsielem Parish Church
dedicated to St. Andrew, patron of fisherman.
The procession left the church at around 5pm.
Guild-brothers led the procession, followed by the
clergy together with local pilgrims.
Andrew, like
his brother Simon Peter, was a fisherman. He became a disciple
of the great St. John the Baptist, but when John pointed to
Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" Andrew
understood that Jesus was greater. At once he left John to
follow the Divine Master. Jesus knew that Andrew was walking
behind him, and turning back, he asked, "what do you
seek?" When Andrew answered that he would like to know
where Jesus lived, Our Lord replied, "Come and see."
Andrew had been only a little time with Jesus when he realized
that this was truly the Messiah.
From
then on, he chose to follow Jesus. Andrew was thus the first
disciple of Christ. Next, Andrew brought his brother Simon
(St. Peter) to Jesus and Jesus received him, too, as His
disciple. At first the two brothers continued to carry on
their fishing trade and family affairs, but later, the Lord
called them to stay with Him all the time. He promised to make
them fishers of men, and this time, they left their nets for
good. It is believed that after Our Lord ascended into Heaven,
St. Andrew went to Greece to preach the gospel. He is said to
have been put to death on a cross, to which he was tied, not
nailed. He lived two days in that state of suffering, still
preaching to the people who gathered around their beloved
Apostle. Two countries have chosen St. Andrew as their patron
- Russia and Scotland.
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