Holy Martyr Andrew Stratelates

Life

He was an officer — a tribune — in the Roman army in the time of Emperor Maximian. By birth from Syria, and serving in Syria. When the Persians threatened the Roman Empire with their army, the command of troops in the battle against the enemy was entrusted to Andrew. On this occasion Andrew was promoted to commander — stratelates. A secret Christian, although still unbaptized, Andrew placed his trust in the living God, and from the multitude of soldiers he selected only the best and went into battle. Before the battle he said to his soldiers that if they all called upon the one true God, Christ the Lord, for help, their enemies would scatter before them like dust. And indeed all the soldiers, inspired both by Andrew and by his faith, called upon Christ for help and charged. The Persian army was utterly destroyed. When the victorious Andrew returned to Antioch, certain envious men accused him as a Christian, and the imperial governor summoned him to trial. Andrew openly declared his unwavering faith in Christ. After cruel tortures the governor cast Andrew into prison and wrote to the emperor in Rome. Knowing Andrew's prestige among the people and in the army, the emperor ordered the governor to release Andrew, but to watch for another opportunity and another pretext — not his faith — to kill him. Through divine revelation Andrew learned of that imperial command, so taking with him his faithful soldiers, 2,593 in number, he went with them to Tarsus in Cilicia, and there they were all baptized by Bishop Peter. Pursued by the imperial authorities there as well, Andrew with his company withdrew far into the Armenian mountain of Taurus. There in a gorge, while they were at prayer, the Roman army overtook them and slew them all to the last man. None of them wished to defend himself, but all were eager for a martyr's death for Christ. On that spot where the blood of the martyrs poured out in a stream, a spring of healing water burst forth which healed every disease. Bishop Peter came secretly with his people and honorably buried the bodies of the martyrs on that very spot. They all suffered honorably, and crowned with wreaths of immortal glory they passed into the Kingdom of Christ our God.

From the Hymn of Praise

Nature's song amid the Taurian mountainsEchoed without a human voice to answer.Until one day the mountain trembled,And a new echo resounded through it;