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Andrey YrodivuyA famous Christian saint and holy fool.
Date of Birth: .
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Andrew the Fool-for-Christ
Andrew, a Slavic by birth, was a slave to Theognost, a wealthy bodyguard from Constantinople. Embracing the ascetic feat of foolishness for Christ, Andrew was cast out by his master and lived in poverty and cold, patiently enduring the mockery and humiliation of those around him.
Vision of the Intercession
Later, Andrew the Fool, according to hagiographic sources, was honored with a vision of the Most Holy Mother of God, which was later reflected in the feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, celebrated by Orthodox and Eastern-rite Catholics.
When the city of Constantinople (Tsargrad) was surrounded by enemy troops, its inhabitants gathered in fear at the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos at Blachernae, where an all-night vigil was held. Andrew and his disciple Epiphanius (later the Patriarch of Constantinople) were also present and praying at the service.
As the service drew to a close, Andrew saw the Mother of God, radiant with light, accompanied by angels and saints. After a long, kneeling prayer, the Virgin Mary removed a bright veil-omophorion (Greek: maphorion) from her head with tears and spread it wide over the people in the church, providing them with protection. This vision and sign signified the salvation of the inhabitants of the city from invasion, and the enemy troops soon retreated.
Sainthood and Legacy
Saint Andrew, a fool-for-Christ's sake, died at the age of 66 in 936 AD. His memory is celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church on October 15 (October 2 according to the Julian calendar), and by other churches of the Greek tradition on May 28.
The extensive Greek Life of Andrew the Fool was translated into Old Russian in the 12th century (presumably in the north—in Novgorod, due to Old Novgorodian traits in many lists) and became very popular in Russia. There are also original Russian works featuring Andrew the Fool.
