四 安得烈 (Andrew)

他是耶稣第一个呼召的门徒，随即带领哥哥彼得归主。是他带领拥有五饼二鱼的孩童见主，使五千人饱足；又带领了几位希腊人见主。因此，他被称为领人归主的传道模范。当教会在耶路撒冷遭遇逼迫时，众门徒都分散到各处去，这位加利利海的渔夫，成为七洋的航海家，到处传福音。他最先到俄国南部地区，故有“到俄国去的宣教师”之称。亚该亚省(希腊)的帕特拉是安得烈最后的宣道站，也是他被钉死之地。相传其十字架为“X”形，从此此形的十字架就为“圣安得烈十字架”。据古教父耶柔米说，安得烈在上十字架前，对群众发表一篇颇长而剌激的言论，然后毫无惧色地殉道，使许多人相信耶稣是救主。

安得烈（Andrew）认为自己不配得跟主耶稣死在同一种十字架上。”刑罚开始时，由七位士兵狠狠地抽打安得烈，然后又绑在十字架上，他的同工说，当兵丁把他带往十字架时，他向十字架行礼说，“这是我盼望已久的快乐时刻。因着基督的被钉，这十字架已经变得圣洁了。当安得烈的身体被钉在十架上时，他仍旧向那些虐待他的人传福音，直到二天后才死去。 　

Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: 'I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.' He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.