Saint Andrew The Apostle Orthodox Icon

Saint Andrew The Apostle Orthodox Icon is a hand-painted full-length image of Saint Andrew the First-Called, one of the Twelve Apostles of Christ, brother of Saint Peter, and the first disciple called by the Savior. Saint Andrew is venerated as a preacher of the Gospel, a witness of faith, and a heavenly patron for men named Andrew, travelers, sailors, missionaries, and all who ask God for firmness on the Christian path.

The apostle is shown standing on a gold background, holding an apostolic cross-staff and a scroll. His hand is raised in a blessing gesture. The strict vertical composition, green fields, clear inscriptions, and elongated format make the icon solemn, readable, and suitable for both home and church placement.

Available sizes: 13×25 cm (5.1×9.8 in), 18×31 cm (7.1×12.2 in), and 30×50 cm (11.8×19.7 in). Larger church and iconostasis sizes may be discussed individually.

For Whom This Icon Is Suitable

This icon is especially suitable as a name-saint icon for men and boys named Andrew. It can be given for Baptism, name day, birthday, coming of age, anniversary, wedding, house blessing, or another important family occasion.

The image is also appropriate for an Orthodox family that wants to include one of Christ’s first witnesses in the home icon corner. Saint Andrew reminds the faithful of readiness to follow Christ, missionary zeal, spiritual courage, and fidelity to the Gospel.

For a parish, chapel, or iconostasis, the icon may be painted in a larger size. The full-length figure of the apostle fits naturally into an apostolic row, a side kiot, or a separate place of veneration.

What People Pray For Before Saint Andrew

Orthodox Christians ask Saint Andrew the Apostle for intercession in matters of faith, vocation, travel, family life, wisdom, and missionary service. The icon is not an amulet and does not guarantee a particular result. Prayer before an icon is prayer to God, with the saint depicted asked to intercede.

• For strengthening of Orthodox faith and faithfulness to Christ
• For help in choosing a life path or making an important decision
• For protection during travel, sea journeys, and work-related trips
• For spiritual firmness, courage, and patience
• For peace and well-being in the family
• For sailors, travelers, missionaries, preachers, mentors, and teachers of faith
• For men and boys named Andrew

Life of Saint Andrew the First-Called

Saint Andrew was the brother of the Apostle Peter and came from Galilee. Before being called by Christ, he was a fisherman. Church tradition calls him the First-Called because he was among the first to follow the Savior. Before meeting Christ, Andrew had been a disciple of Saint John the Forerunner. After hearing the witness about the Messiah, he followed the Lord and brought his brother Simon Peter to Him.

After the Resurrection of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit, Saint Andrew preached the Gospel in many lands. In Church memory he remains a tireless witness of Christ, a preacher of repentance, and an apostle of the Kingdom of God. His ministry is connected with the themes of journey, proclamation, courage, and readiness to go wherever God calls.

The martyrdom of Saint Andrew is traditionally connected with death on a cross. For this reason, his icon often includes a cross or cross-staff, recalling his confession of Christ and faithfulness to the end.

Feast Days of Saint Andrew

The main feast day of Saint Andrew the First-Called is celebrated on December 13 according to the new calendar, which corresponds to November 30 on the old calendar. He is also commemorated on July 13, or June 30 on the old calendar, in the Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles.

These dates may be considered when choosing a name-saint icon for Andrew, a name-day gift, Baptism gift, birthday gift, anniversary gift, or family shrine. Since a hand-painted icon requires time for board preparation, gesso, painting, gilding, inscriptions, drying, and finishing, it is best to order in advance for a specific date.

Features of This Icon

Saint Andrew the Apostle is shown in a full-length vertical composition. This format emphasizes his apostolic standing and makes the image especially expressive in the elongated sizes of 13×25 cm, 18×31 cm, and 30×50 cm.

The face of the apostle is calm and attentive. His gray hair, beard, direct gaze, and restrained expression present a man who passed through discipleship, preaching, and confession of Christ. The icon avoids excessive decoration so that attention remains on the saint’s face, gesture, scroll, and cross-staff.

The scroll in one hand points to Gospel preaching and apostolic teaching. The blessing gesture turns the saint toward the person praying before the icon. The long cross-staff strengthens the vertical form and recalls the apostle’s path of witness.

Iconography: Cross-Staff, Scroll, and Blessing Gesture

The cross-staff in the hand of Saint Andrew is connected with his apostolic service and the memory of his martyrdom. It makes the icon immediately recognizable and shows that Andrew was not only a disciple, but a preacher and witness who followed Christ to the end.

The scroll recalls the apostolic teaching and the proclamation of the Gospel. The apostles did not bring people their own doctrine, but the good news of Christ. For the person praying before the icon, the scroll is a reminder that Christian life includes hearing and keeping the word of God.

The blessing gesture shows the apostle as a holy intercessor and witness of Christ. Together with the direct gaze and calm posture, it makes the icon prayerfully close and suitable for asking help, firmness, wisdom, and strength in faith.

Materials and Gold Work

The icon is painted on a solid linden board strengthened with oak splines. The board is prepared with natural chalk gesso. The image is written in egg tempera, the traditional medium of Orthodox icon painting.

Egg tempera allows careful work on the face, garments, scroll, cross-staff, blessing hand, and inscriptions. The background and halo are gilded with gold leaf, giving the image a sacred luminous space. The green fields provide a calm and noble frame around the figure.

When ordered individually, the size, field color, degree of gilding, halo treatment, inscriptions, color intensity of the garments, and overall artistic style may be discussed before the icon is painted.

Available Sizes

The icon is available in 13×25 cm (5.1×9.8 in), 18×31 cm (7.1×12.2 in), and 30×50 cm (11.8×19.7 in).

The 13×25 cm size is suitable for a small prayer shelf, personal corner, study, bedroom, or compact name-saint gift. The 18×31 cm size is a balanced home format that gives more room for the face, garments, halo, inscriptions, and apostolic cross-staff.

The 30×50 cm size is suitable for a family icon corner, prayer room, chapel, church, or a solemn gift for an important date. Larger iconostasis sizes may be selected individually according to placement, lighting, viewing distance, and neighboring icons.

Care and Blessing

The icon may be blessed before shipping if requested, or after receiving it at your own parish church. A hand-painted icon should be kept away from moisture, direct sunlight, radiators, humidifiers, and sudden temperature changes.

Dust should be removed only with a dry soft brush or dry soft cloth, without pressure. Special care should be taken with the gold background, halo, inscriptions, and painted surface.

Materials and Characteristics

Name	Saint Andrew The Apostle Orthodox Icon
Saint depicted	Saint Andrew the First-Called Apostle
Iconographic type	Full-length image of the apostle with cross-staff and scroll
Feast days	December 13 / November 30 old calendar; July 13 / June 30 old calendar
Board	Linden board with oak splines
Ground	Natural chalk gesso
Painting medium	Egg tempera
Gilding	Gold leaf on the background and halo
Features	Green fields, apostolic cross-staff, scroll, blessing gesture, name inscriptions
Available sizes	13×25 cm (5.1×9.8 in), 18×31 cm (7.1×12.2 in), 30×50 cm (11.8×19.7 in)

FAQ

Who is shown on the Saint Andrew The Apostle Orthodox Icon?

The icon shows Saint Andrew the First-Called, one of the Twelve Apostles of Christ, brother of Saint Peter, and the first disciple called by the Savior.

Why is Andrew called the First-Called?

He is called the First-Called because he was among the first to follow Christ and then brought his brother Simon Peter to the Savior.

What do people pray for before Saint Andrew the Apostle?

People ask for strengthening of faith, help in choosing a life path, protection in travel, family peace, wisdom, and support for men named Andrew.

Who is this icon suitable for as a name-saint icon?

It is especially suitable for men and boys named Andrew and can be given for Baptism, name day, birthday, or anniversary.

When is the feast day of Saint Andrew the First-Called?

His main feast day is December 13, or November 30 on the old calendar. He is also commemorated on July 13 in the Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles.

What does the cross-staff mean?

The cross-staff recalls Saint Andrew’s apostolic journey, preaching of the Gospel, and faithful confession of Christ.

What does the scroll mean?

The scroll points to apostolic teaching and the proclamation of the Gospel.

What sizes are available?

The available sizes are 13×25 cm (5.1×9.8 in), 18×31 cm (7.1×12.2 in), and 30×50 cm (11.8×19.7 in).

What materials are used?

The icon is painted on a linden board with oak splines, natural chalk gesso, egg tempera, and gold leaf on the background and halo.

How should this hand-painted icon be cared for?

Keep it away from moisture, direct sunlight, and sudden temperature changes. Dust it only with a dry soft brush or dry soft cloth, without pressure.