Saint Andrew in Georgia

Andrew the First-Called

According to the New Testament, Andrew, just like his brother Peter, was one of Jesus’s disciples. In Georgia Andrew is also referred to as “Andrew the First-Called”. Georgian religious tradition regards him not only as the first preacher of Christianity in Georgia, but as the founder of the Georgian Orthodox Church itself. Orthodox tradition has it that Saint Andrew’s ecclesiastical successor is the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

Early sources like the Gallo-Roman historian Gregory of Tours state that Saint Andrew was born around the year 10 BC in Galilee, in today’s Israel. Like his brother he was a fisherman and is said to have been crucified on an X-shaped cross that became known as the “Saint Andrew’s Cross”. The crucifixion took part in the Greek city of Patras, where Andrew’s relics are still kept at the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew.

The Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates two days in honor of Saint Andrew, 12th May and 13th December.

Medieval Georgian annals state that the former icon of Atskuri Church, the Virgin Hodegetria, was brought to Georgia by Saint Andrew himself. And it was said to be visited by Byzantine Emperor Heraclius on in his way to war with Persia in 627.

Today the former icon of Atskuri Church, an depiction of the Mary, Mother of God holding her son Jesus, can be found in Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Western Georgia.

Picture credits: Archive of the Georgian National Library

Project “Increased regional added value in the tourism sectors of Georgia by Digital Heritage Tourism Guides” was funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation.