Patras, Cathedral of Andrew the First-Called

Patra is the capital of the Peloponnese and the third largest city in Greece.

Locals call it the “Gateway to Europe” because it is the third largest port city in Greece. But his calling card is the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called. It was on this square in the second half of the 2nd century AD that the Saint was crucified.

The cathedral amazes with its beauty and grandeur. It is here that the relics and cross of Andrew the First-Called are kept. The city of Patra is connected to the mainland of Greece by the Rio Andirio Bridge, which is the second largest bridge in Europe.

The last years of his life, the Apostle Andrew the First-Called lived in Patras, here he preached the faith of Christ, gathered around him a large Christian community. In Patras, according to Life, Andrew the First-Called performed many miracles: healing by laying on hands, raising the dead. On November 30 (December 13) 70, the governor of Aegeatus ordered the execution of Andrew the First-Called, crucifying him on a cross. The cross on which Andrew the First-Called was crucified had not an ordinary appearance, but a mowed one, since the apostle considered himself unworthy to die on the same cross as Jesus Christ.

In memory of this, such a mowed cross is now called the “Andrey Cross”, now it is one of the revered symbols of Christianity. The governor of Aegeatus ordered not to nail Andrew the First-Called to the cross, but to tie his hands and feet to prolong his suffering. For two days the apostle preached from the cross. People who listened to him demanded to stop the execution, and the ruler, fearing popular unrest, ordered to remove the apostle from the cross.

However, Andrew the First-Called wanted to die in the name of Christ, and the soldiers could not untie the ropes. Life reports that when the holy Apostle died, the cross was illuminated with bright radiance. According to legend, at the place of the crucifixion of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, the source scored