St. Andrew the First-Called Feast

On November 30 the Bulgarian Orthodox church celebrates the day of the holy apostle Andrew the First-Called. He was a fisherman,, one of the twelve apostles, brother of St. Peter, who preached the Christian belief among the people living in the Balkan and Black Sea coastal regions – the Scythians. The legend tells he was the first of the apostles to follow Christ, therefore he was named the First-Called. He was crucified in the Greek city of Patra. His cross, which was shaped like an X, is known in iconography and Medieval art as “St. Andrew’s Cross”. Bulgarian people believe that on the day of St. Andrew’s feast, the day starts to grow. Therefore, St. Andrew is believed to “drive away winter and long nights”. On St. Andrew’s day, everyone called Andrew celebrate their name day.