Our father among the saints '''Andrew, Archbishop of Crete''', was born in [[Archbishop]] of Crete at the end of the 7th century and the city beginning of Damascus into the 8th. He was a pious Christian family. Up until seven years true luminary of age the boy was mute Church, a great hierarch—a [[theologian]], teacher and did not talk. However[[hymnographer]], after communing best known for writing the [[Holy MysteriesGreat Canon]] of Christ he found the gift of speech and began to speak. And from that time the lad began earnestly to study His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[Holy ScriptureJuly 4]] and the discipline of theology.

At fourteen years of age he went off to [[Jerusalem]] and there he accepted [[monastic]] [[tonsure]] at the monastery of ==Life==St. [[Sabbas the Sanctified|Sava the Sanctified]]. St Andrew led a strict and chaste life, he was meek and abstinent, such that all were amazed at his virtue and reasoning born in the city of mindDamascus into a pious Christian family. As a man Up until seven years of talent and known for his virtuous life, over age the passage of time he came to be numbered among the Jerusalem clergy boy was mute and was appointed a secretary for the [[Patriarchate]]—a writing clerkdid not talk. In the year 680 However, after communing the [[locum tenensHoly Mysteries]] of Christ he found the [[Church gift of Jerusalem|Jerusalem Patriarchate]], Theodore, included [[archdeacon]] Andrew among the representatives of the Holy City sent speech and began to the [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]], and here the saint contended against [[heresy|heretical teachings]], relying upon his profound knowledge of Orthodox doctrinespeak. Shortly after And from that time the Council he was summoned back lad began earnestly to Constantinople from Jerusalem and he was appointed archdeacon at the church of study [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia SophiaHoly Scripture]], and the Wisdom of God. During the reign of the emperor Justinian II (685-695) St. Andrew was ordained [[bishop]] discipline of the city of Gortineia on the island of Crete. In his new position he shone forth as a true luminary of the Church, a great hierarch - a theologian, teacher and [[hymnographer]]theology.

At fourteen years of age he went off to [[Jerusalem]] and there he accepted [[monastic]] [[tonsure]] at the monastery of St. Andrew wrote many liturgical [[hymnSabbas the Sanctified|Sava the Sanctified]]s. He St. Andrew led a strict and chaste life, he was meek and abstinent, such that all were amazed at his virtue and reasoning of mind. As a man of talent and known for his virtuous life, over the originator passage of time he came to be numbered among the Jerusalem clergy and was appointed a new liturgical form - secretary for the [[canonPatriarchate]]—a writing clerk. Of In the canons composed by him year 680 the best known is ''[[locum tenens]]'' of the [[Great CanonChurch of Jerusalem|Great Penitential CanonJerusalem Patriarchate]], including within its 9 odes Theodore, included [[archdeacon]] Andrew among the representatives of the Holy City sent to the 250 [[troparion|tropariaSixth Ecumenical Council]] recited during , and here the saint contended against [[Great Lentheresy|heretical teachings]], relying upon his profound knowledge of Orthodox doctrine. In Shortly after the First Week of Lent Council he was summoned back to Constantinople from Jerusalem and he was appointed archdeacon at the service church of [[ComplineHagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] it is read in portions (thus called "methymony", and again on Thursday the Wisdom of God. During the Fifth Week at reign of the emperor [[AllJustinian II]] (685-night Vigil695) St. Andrew was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] during [[Matinsbishop]]of the city of Gortineia on the island of Crete.

St. Andrew wrote many liturgical [[hymn]]s. He was the originator of a new liturgical form—the [[canon]]. Of the canons composed by him the best known is the [[Great Canon|Great Penitential Canon]], including within its 9 odes the 250 [[troparion|troparia]] recited during the [[Great Lent]]. In the First Week of Lent at the service of [[Compline]] it is read in portions (thus called "methymony") and again on Thursday of the Fifth Week at the [[All-Night Vigil]] during [[Matins]].  St. Andrew of Crete gained renown with his many praises of the [[Theotokos|All-Pure Virgin Mary]]. To him are likewise ascribed: the Canon for the feast of the [[Nativity]] of Christ, three odes for the Compline of [[Palm Sunday]] and also in the first four days of Holy [[Passion Week]], as well as verses for the feast of the [[Meeting of the Lord]], and many another church-song. His hynographic hymnographic tradition was continued by the churchly great melodists of following ages: Saints [[John of Damascus]], [[Cosmas the Hymnographer|Cosmas of Maium]], [[Joseph the Hymnographer|Joseph the Melodist]], [[Theophanes the Confessor|Theophanes the Branded]]. There have also been preserved edifying [[Sermonsermon]]s of St. Andrew for certain of the Church feasts.  Church historians are not of the same opinion as to the date of death of the saint. One suggests the year 712, while others the year 726. He died on the island of Mytilene, while returning to Crete from Constantinople, where he had been on churchly business. His [[relics]] were transferred to Constantinople. In the year 1350 the pious Russian pilgrim Stefan Novgorodets saw the relics at the Constantinople monastery named for St. Andrew of Crete.

[[Troparion]] ([[Tone ]] 5):Like the [[Prophet ]] [[David]]

:As an initiate of the [[Holy Spirit]]

:You shone with the light of the [[Trinity]], O righteous Andrew.

 ==SourcesSource==*[http://wwwocafs.oca.org/FSlivesFeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=101894 St Andrew the Archbishop of Crete] ([[OCA]]) ==External links==*[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp ?contentid=109 Andrew of Crete Author of the Great Canon] ([[GOARCH]])*[http://www.ocawestsrbdio.org - Lives of Saints, /prolog/my.html?month=July &day=4.Saint Andrew, Archbishop of Crete] (''[[Prologue of Ohrid]]'')