Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/260

 232 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

When supposed to be entirely deprived of life, he was cast aside into a field as dead. But he miraculously recovered and returned publicly to the city, where he recommenced his labors and wrought miracles. He was eminently success- ful. Many beHeved his teachings and were converted, and became of hke precious faith with himself. An author quoting from the ancients, says that while at this place, Andrew met his brother Peter, and they both remained at Synope for some time. The chairs, made of white stone, wherein they were accustomed to sit when instructing the people, were existing and commonly shown in his time. Andrew afterwards returned to Jerusalem, and from thence travelled extensively, encountering many difficulties and great hardships until his execution.

It is believed that he established a church in Byzantium (Constantinople), and ordained Stachys, who had been named by Paul as its first Bishop, and alluded to in his epistles to the Romans as " My beloved." He was bishop sixteen years, z^ndrew's travels may be succinctly enumerated by stating that after leaving Jerusalem, he first journeyed through Cappadocia, Galatia and Bithynia, provinces of Asia Minor, continuing along the Euxine Sea, into the desert of Scythia. An ancient author writes that he first came to Amynsus, where he preached in one of the Jewish Synagogues, next to Trapazium, a maritime city on the Euxine Sea, thence after visiting other places he came to Nice in Northern Italy, where he remained two years ; then passed to Niesmedia and Chalcedon, whence he sailed through the Propontis to the Euxine again, and from there to Heraclen, and afterwards to Amastres and thence to Synope. Returning to Jerusalem, from thence he travelled over Tlirace, Macedonia, Thessera, Achaia and Epirus, until he came to Patras. a city of Achaia in Greece, where his earthly mission ended, after a very laborious and perilous service, which he resolutely conducted with constancy and fidelity. The Muscovites claim that St. Andrew carried the Gospel into their country " as far as the mouth of the Borysthenes," in Russia, and "to the mountains where the city of Kiow now stands, to the frontiers of Poland." They beheve that he was the first to preach to the Slavonians in Novogorod, also in Sarmatia. the vast region of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, which includes the most considerable portion of Poland, and the whole of Central and Southern Russia, except the Crimea and Northern Hungary.

They honor him as the principal titular saint of the Empire. Peter the Great created under Andrew's name, the first as well as the most noble order of knighthood, — -the Knight of the Blue Ribbon, December 20, 1698, — in commemoration of the supposed introduction of Christianity in the Russian Empire, by the Apostle Andrew. This order is the highest in rank in the Empire, and is confined to members of the Imperial family, princes and the chief officers of the realm, being only bestowed by special favor of the Emperor. The badge or medal is the figure of St. Andrew on a gold enam- elled cross, on the corners of which are four letters S. A. P. R., '' Sanctius Andreas Patronus Russae." On the reverse is the Imperial Eagle with spread wings and double-headed, with the legend, in Russian, " For religion and loy- ality," and the name of the Saint. It is fastened to a sky blue ribbon and sus- pended fiom the right shoulder towards the left hip, but at festivals is pendant to a collar of gold, composed of square chains and roses. The collar of the order consists of St. Andrew crosses alternating with imperial crowns. The Em- perors carry a St. Andrew's cross with the figure of the Apostle with a smaller cross. Beneath and above may be defined the double-headed emblematic eagle, with an inscription, " Peter possessor and autocrat of Russia." The decorations have undergone some alterations since the Order of St. Andrew was instituted, but the Apostle and his cross have always been the conspicious

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