Andrew’s Missionary Journeys

“Saint Andrew the First Called”: the brother of Peter and former disciple of John the Baptist.

After Pentecost, the Apostles divided the regions of the world amongst themselves; casting lots to see who would go where. Therefore, from Jerusalem, the Apostle Andrew went north and west.

First Journey

Jerusalem: Begins

Amisos: On the southern coast of the Black Sea, the people of Amisos were very generous and hospitable to foreign travellers, yet they were spiritually ignorant and impious. When Andrew arrived there, he went to the synagogue and started teaching the people about the fulfillment of the prophesies of the Old Testament in Christ Jesus, the Messiah. The community there were eager to hear the truth and the multitudes repented and received holy baptism from the Apostle. Andrew healed the sick, erected a church and ordained a number of priests there to continue the work of the Lord.

Trebizond: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Lazika: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Jerusalem: Returned and celebrated the feast of Pascha (Easter) with the other Apostles and met Paul for the first time. [Gal 1:18]

Second Journey

Jerusalem: Begins

Ephesus: Andrew travelled by sea to Ephesus with the Apostle John and Prochorus, [Acts 6:5], whose lot it was to labor in that city. One he arrived, however, he received a vision from the Lord to go to Nicea. Which he did immediately.

Nicea: He stayed there for 2 years and performed many miracles by the grace of God. He had an iron staff with the emblem of the Cross upon it and with it, he miraculously drove away the wild beasts which had been terrorizing the people in the region. He also destroyed the temples of Aphrodite and Artemis that were there. Many who rejected the Gospel became demon-possessed, but Andrew took pity upon them and cast the demons out. Subsequently, they believed and were baptized.

Nikomedia: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Chalcedon; Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Scoutari: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Neocastra: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Herakleia: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Amastris: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Sinope: There, he met and labored with his brother, the Apostle Peter. However, before Andrew had arrived in the city, the Apostle Matthias, who had been chosen to replace Judas had been put into prison there. When Andrew was told of this, he prayed on Matthias’ behalf and instantly, the shackles and chains fell from Matthias’ body, the door of the prison swung open and he walked out freely. The people of the city were a fierce group and were furious at Andrew for this. Thus, they seized him and beat him.

Having done their worst, they left him for dead on a dung pile. In this state, the Lord appeared to him and healed him of all his wounds and encouraged him to continue on. Therefore, when Andrew went back into the city the next morning, the people saw him healed and repented, begging the Apostle’s forgiveness. He taught and performed many more miracles there.

Amisos: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Trebizond: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Neocaesaria: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Samosata: The Greeks there thought they were the wisest men on earth, yet the wisdom of the Apostle and the many miracles exposed their deception. All living there repented and received baptism.

Jerusalem: Met with the other Apostles and celebrated Easter again and to help convene a council to decide on the matter of the circumcision of converts. [ Acts 15:6]

Third Journey

Jerusalem: Begins

Chorassan (bordering Mesopotamia): There, Andrew went, accompanied by the Apostles Matthias and Judas. They stayed in the region while Andrew continued on.

Abasgia: He drew multitudes to the Christian Faith in those regions.

Zygi, The Bosphorians (near Byzantium), Straights of Kafa: He stayed there for a long time, Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining.

Byzantium: The city that in the future would become the great Constantinople. Andrew performed a multitude of miracles and the people were so receptive that they built a magnificent church in honour of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Andrew ordained a man named Stachys as bishop for them. [see Paul’s greeting to him in Romans 16:9] Stachys was one of the 70 apostles of Christ who were sent out two by two in the Gospel. [Luke 10:1]

Herakleia: Andrew converted many there and consecrated Apelles as bishop for them. [Romans 16:10]

Pontus: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Scythia: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

The Chersonese: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Up the Dnieper River: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Kiev: In the future capital of the land of Rus, (Russia before Genghis Khan), Andrew erected a cross and prophesied that this land would become a major Christian centre, saying: “Believe me, on these hills the Grace of God will shine forth. There will be a great city here, and the Lord will raise many churches in this place and enlighten all of the Russian land with Holy Baptism.” This prediction was amazingly fulfilled starting in the 7th century.

Novgorod: A great future city in the far north of Russia

Rome: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Epirus region: Teaching, Wonder-working, Baptizing and Ordaining

Thrace: Firmly establishing the Faith and ordaining bishops for the people there.

Patras: This is where the Holy Apostle Andrew was martyred.