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Light from the Saints
Very Rev. Ihor Kutash
Blessed Andrew the Fool-For-Christ at Constantinople
The
feast day of Blessed Andrew the Fool-for-Christ
whose memory is celebrated on Oct. 15 (which is October 2 on the
Julian calendar). Andrew was a Slav and lived in the tenth century at
Constantinople. From his early years, he loved God's Church and the Holy
Scriptures. Once during a dream, the saint beheld a vision of two
armies. In the one were men in radiant garb, in the other, black and
fierce-looking devils. An angel of God, who held wondrous crowns, said
to Andrew, that these crowns were not adornments from the earthly world,
but rather a celestial treasure, with which the Lord rewards His
warriors, victorious over the dark hordes. "Proceed with this good
deed," the angel said to Andrew. "Be a fool for My sake and you will
receive much in the day of My Kingdom."
The
saint perceived that it was the Lord Himself summoning him to this deed.
From that time Andrew began to go about the streets in rags, as though
his mind had become muddled. For many years the saint endured mockery
and insults. With indifference he underwent beatings, hunger and thirst,
cold and heat, begging alms and giving them away to the poor. For his
great forbearance and humility the saint received from the Lord the gift
of prophecy and wisdom, saving many from spiritual perils, and he
unmasked the impiety of many.
It was St. Andrew who, while praying at the Blachernae
church, with his disciple, the Blessed Epiphanius, beheld the Most Holy
Mother of God, holding her veil over those praying under her Protection.
The Synaxarion reads that, upon seeing this vision, St. Andrew turned to
his companion and asked: “Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos,
praying for all the world?" Epiphanius answered, "I do see, holy Father,
and I am in awe."
Blessed Andrew died in the year 936.
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