There is a Syncroblog call out that today is a day to discuss Fools-for-Christ I’m probably doing it wrong, as I didn’t sign up or anything, but I was contemplating today who I’d call my favorite. I landed on St. Andrew, as I have a special affection for the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos.
His hagiography, from the OCA site
Blessed Andrew, Fool-for-Christ, 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 fiercesome 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 forebearance 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.
While praying at the Blachernae church, St Andrew beheld the Most Holy Mother of God, holding her veil over those praying under her Protection (October 1). Blessed Andrew died in the year 936. Other (wiser) posts are linked from this excellent post.
I’d forgotten that Moscow’s famous St. Basil’s Church is in honor of St. Basil, the Fool for Christ, and not St. Basil the Great.
(icon credit)
posted by Mimi @ 1/16/2008 02:41:00 PM
6 Comments
6 Comments:
St. Andrew the Fool is the Patron Saint for our 3 year old, Andrew.
It is kind of funny because our daughter is named Tansy, our middle boy is named Becket. When we named Andrew, Andrew people felt like we had gone normal with the name and wanted to know what the deal was. When we told them that Andrew was named after a Fool for Christ, then they felt like it was okay.
Another bio on St. Anthony: http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints_sept_oct.htm#n17
There is a Parish in Redding CA whose Patron is St. Andrew: http://www.standrewfoolforchrist.org/
Mimi,
Thanks for telling people about it. My contribution to the synchroblog is at Notes from underground: Blessed are the foolish -- foolish are the blessed.
You join in by blogging on the theme and adding the list of other participants, which you can copy from one of the others, and paste at the bottom of your post. I'll be adding a link to yours.
very interesting post, thank you. fools-for-Christ have long interested me.
oh, and I did not know about synchroblog, so i think i might start doing that :)
I've always kind of thought of the Holy Prophet Ezekiel as the first Fool-for-Christ. He certainly behaved oddly.
I thought of that, Papa Herman when I was composing the post. I think St. Andrew is an excellent namesake!
Thank you Steve and nice to meet you and Tatiana!
And, Matt, I can definitely see that as well.
I find it inspiring how Saint Andrew dedicated his life to serving God despite facing ridicule.
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