Canon to the Holy Apostle Andrew
the First-Called
The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called was the first of the apostles to follow Christ. The faithful disciple of Christ tirelessly preached the Gospel of the Savior to people. Through his prayers, the Lord performed many miracles. He ended his earthly life with a martyr’s death. Let us glorify the holy Apostle Andrew in our prayers, hoping for his intercession for us before the Lord. The memory of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called is celebrated on November 30 (December 13 according to the civil calendar).
With the usual entrance prayers for all canons.
Tone 1
Tropar’, Tone 4.
O First-Called among the Apostles, and true brother of the Chief Apostle, O Andrew, pray thou unto the Master of all to grant peace unto the universe and great mercy unto our souls. (Twice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen, Tone 4.
The mystery hidden from eternity and unknown to the angels was made manifest through thee, O Theotokos, unto those upon the earth: God incarnate in an unconfused union, Who willingly for our sake accepted the Cross. Whereby, having raised up the first-formed man, He saved our souls from death.
Ode I, Irmos.
Thy victorious right hand, O God, hath been glorified in strength; for it, O Immortal and Almighty One, hath crushed the adversaries, and for Israel made new a path through the deep.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Cleanse my troubled soul, O divine Andrew, corrupted in thoughts and words, by the grace that dwelt within thee, O preacher of Christ, that with purity I may draw forth for thee waters of song.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
The honored Forerunner of Christ, the foremost among his disciples, the branch sprung from a barren womb, brought unto Christ born of the Virgin the all-glorious Andrew, rejoicing.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By desire and unwavering love thou didst ascend the ladder of good deeds, unceasingly learning the upward way, and from the power of evil didst attain unto the supreme strength, O Andrew.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
Rejoice, O fountain of grace; rejoice, ladder and heavenly gate; rejoice, lampstand and golden jar, and mountain unhewn, who didst bear unto the world Christ the Giver of Life.
Katavasia.
Deliver thy servants from afflictions, O holy Apostle Andrew, for after God we all flee unto thee; for thou prayest for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode III, Irmos.
O Thou Who alone knowest the frailty of earthly nature and compassionately didst clothe Thyself therein, gird me with power from on high to hymn Thee, O Holy One, the spiritual Church, unto the ineffable glory of Thee, O Lover of mankind.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Not being summoned, but of thine own will, thou didst hasten with longing, O Andrew, unto the life-giving Fountain like a stag; and having found Him, thou didst preach Him unto all, and having drunk, thou didst give drink of the incorruptible waters unto the ends of the earth that were parched with thirst.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
With the net of words thou didst catch rational fish from the depths of deception, O Apostle, and didst present them as an honored dish upon the table of Christ, illumined by grace from Him Who appeared in the likeness of flesh.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst understand the laws of nature, O most glorious Andrew, and taking thy kinsman as companion, didst cry aloud: “We have found the Desired One,” Him Who made fleshly birth a pathway, proclaiming spiritual understanding.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
We rightly call thee the Light Cloud, O Virgin, following the words of the prophets; for the Lord came upon thee to cast down the delusion of Egyptian idols and to enlighten those who serve Him.
Katavasia.
Deliver thy servants from afflictions, O holy Apostle Andrew, for after God we all flee unto thee; for thou prayest for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Sedalen, Tone 8.
As the First-Called disciple, eyewitness of the Word and His faithful servant, we honor thee, O Apostle Andrew. For thou didst follow with unwavering faith the Lamb Who taketh away the sins of the world, and didst become an imitator of His voluntary Passion for our sake. Wherefore we cry unto thee: Pray unto Christ our God to grant forgiveness of sins unto those who lovingly honor thy holy memory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
Rejoice, throne of God formed of fire; rejoice, Maiden, royal seat; bed richly adorned, chamber clothed in gold and purple, radiant garment, ornament of beauty, weapon flashing with lightning, lamp of many lights. Rejoice, O Theotokos, city with twelve walls, gate overlaid with gold, palace radiant with light, table gilded in splendor, tabernacle adorned by God. Rejoice, glorious Bride, distilling the Sun; rejoice, thou only beauty of my soul.
Ode IV, Irmos.
The prophet Habakkuk, beholding thee with foresight, O mountain overshadowed by divine grace, proclaimed that from thee would come forth the Holy One for the salvation and renewal of Israel.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
The divine, consuming, all-active and radiant spiritual power dwelt within thee, O Andrew, manifesting thee as a preacher of ineffable things with tongues of fire.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Thou didst not take up weapons of fleshly vengeance to destroy cruel enemies, O most honored Andrew; but being hedged about by Christ, thou didst bring the nations into obedience. God made thee a mountain dripping with spiritual joy, casting down the proud mountains of demonic exaltation by spiritual power.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Pour forth in abundance the gift of spiritual gladness unto those who celebrate thy memory with love, O Andrew, ever enriching them by thy unceasing prayers.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen:
We hymn thy great and dread mystery; for hidden from the angelic ranks, the Most High descended upon thee as rain upon the fleece, for our salvation and renewal.
Katavasia:
Deliver thy servants from afflictions, O holy Apostle Andrew, for after God we all flee unto thee; for thou prayest for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode V, Irmos.
Enlighten us by the radiance of Thy coming, O Christ, and illumine the ends of the world by Thy Cross; enlighten the hearts of those who rightly glorify Thee with the light of divine knowledge.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Thou didst receive that which thou didst desire, O all-praised Andrew; for entering with Him into the incorruptible dwellings, thou didst worthily reap the labors of thy suffering. Wherefore we glorify thee with hymns.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
The Lord bent thee as a mighty arrow, O blessed one, and sent thee forth into all the world, wounding the demons and healing those pierced by false belief.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst love the Master, and didst pursue His footsteps, guiding unto life, and imitating even unto death His sufferings, O most honored Andrew.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
Despise not the offerings of those who bring them faithfully unto thee, O All- Pure One, but receive them and present them unto thy Son, the one God and Benefactor; for thee do we have as our intercessor.
Katavasia.
Deliver thy servants from afflictions, O holy Apostle Andrew, for after God we all flee unto thee; for thou prayest for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode VI, Irmos.
The abyss encompassed us, there was none to deliver; we were reckoned as sheep for the slaughter. Save Thy people, O our God, for Thou art the strength of the weak and their restoration.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Sailing across the sea of life in the vessel of the body, O all-blessed one, thou didst find Christ, Who holdeth all things, as thy helmsman; and rejoicing thou didst come unto Him, O most honored Andrew.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
With gentle and meek spirit thou didst dry up the seas of wicked polytheism, O blessed one, by divine streams, and didst pour forth rivers of divine knowledge unto all.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By thy word demons are driven away, diseases flee, and the multitude of passions of the soul are put far from the afflicted by the grace given thee by God, O Andrew.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
The forefathers of our race rejoice in thee, O most pure Virgin, for through thee they have regained Eden, which they lost by transgression; for thou art pure before birth and after birth.
Katavasia.
Deliver thy servants from afflictions, O holy Apostle Andrew, for after God we all flee unto thee; for thou prayest for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Kondak, Tone 2.
Let us praise the manly herald of God, the champion of the Church, the foremost Apostle, the kinsman of Peter; for as he once cried unto him of old, so now he cries unto us: “Come, we have found the Desired One.”
Ikos.
David from on high rouses even one such as I, a sinner, to confess the divine justifications with godly words; yet again he teaches unto faith and to confession with many tears. For today,if ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts as Israel once did. Therefore he brings forth the psalm: “Sing unto the Lord, all the earth.” We have found the Desired One.
Ode VII, Irmos.
We the faithful behold thee, O Theotokos, as the spiritual furnace; for as He saved the three youths, so did He Who is greatly glorified renew the world within thy womb, He Who is praised by the fathers, the blessed God.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Truly and manifestly was Thy promise fulfilled, O Christ; for Thy divine disciple, rebuking the storm with a word, turned it unto gentle calm, and saved those sinking therein, as once Thou didst Peter.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Thou wast commanded, O Apostle, to ascend the noetic mountain of Zion; and receiving the cup of salvation, thou didst joyfully tread the path through death unto divine life, where Christ abideth, Who is God over all, O glorious Andrew. He showed thee forth as a river of words, a divine water of life, drying up the torrents of deception, O blessed one, and giving drink unto those who cry aloud: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Though earthly by nature, O Apostle, thou didst work wonders beyond nature, being transformed by love; for the God praised by the fathers granted thee unconquerable might over spirits.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
Jacob foresaw thee, O Theotokos, as the ladder spoken of by the prophets; for through thee the Most High appeared upon the earth unto men and dwelt as He willed, O God praised by the fathers and blessed.
Katavasia.
Deliver thy servants from afflictions, O holy Apostle Andrew, for after God we all flee unto thee; for thou prayest for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode VIII, Irmos.
In the furnace the children of Israel, as in a refining crucible, shone forth more brightly than gold by the beauty of their faith, crying aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; sing and exalt Him unto all ages.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
A light-bearing and joy-bringing ray of healings, O Apostle of Christ Andrew, thy divine memory shineth upon us, who cry aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, sing and exalt Him unto all ages.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Like lightning flashing with light, thou didst go forth unto the illumination of the nations, driving away the darkness of ignorance and enlightening the faithful who cry aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, sing and exalt Him unto all ages.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having taken upon thee human nature, thou didst surpass its limits and pass over unto the angelic habitation, O Apostle Andrew, crying aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, sing and exalt Him unto all ages.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
Rejoice, throne of the glory of God; rejoice, wall of refuge for the faithful, through whom Christ, the Light, shone forth unto those in darkness, unto thee who are blessed and cry aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, sing and exalt Him unto all ages.
Katavasia.
Deliver thy servants from afflictions, O holy Apostle Andrew, for after God we all flee unto thee; for thou prayest for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode IX, Irmos.
In the bush unconsumed by fire thou didst reveal an image of thy pure childbirth; and now we beseech thee to quench the raging furnace of our afflictions, that we may unceasingly magnify thee, O Theotokos.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
As a most pleasing disciple, thou didst follow thy Master, Who was willingly crucified, even unto death; and rejoicing thou didst ascend by the height of the Cross unto the heavens, O blessed Apostle.
Refrain: O holy Apostle Andrew, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
The gate of Eden was opened unto thee, the ladder of heaven was set before thee, and the heavenly dwellings received thee; and standing before Christ, the Giver of Life, thou didst rejoice, O Apostle, becoming an excellent intercessor for peace. Equal in glory with the didactic sufferings, O most wise and blessed Andrew, for thou didst receive the divine end by the Cross and by communion wast made God-bearing. Wherefore we beseech thee: pray without ceasing for us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, O most excellent pair, who have now received your dwelling in the heavens, and who look upon the will of those who hymn you, strengthening those who humble themselves, and enlightening them with the brightness of divine gifts.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
From the root of David thou didst spring forth, O Virgin, according to prophetic and divine foretelling; yet thou didst also truly glorify David, having borne the foretold Lord of Glory, Whom we hymn and magnify.
Katavasia.
Deliver thy servants from afflictions, O holy Apostle Andrew, for after God we all flee unto thee; for thou prayest for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Dismissal.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, and of the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, and of all the saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for Thou art good and lovest mankind. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
Final bows.
13 December 2025