Person

Andrew the Apostle

Galilean fisherman, brother of Peter the Apostle (Simon), originally a disciple of John the Baptist (per John 1:35-40), the first apostle called by Jesus, and according to patristic tradition the evangelist of Scythia, Byzantium, and the Achaian (Greek) seaboard. Martyred by crucifixion on an X-shaped cross at Patras in Achaia, Andrew is the patron of Russia, Ukraine, Scotland, Romania, Greece, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Biographical sketch

Family and origin: Andrew was a fisherman of Bethsaida (John 1:44) and later of Capernaum, working a family business with his brother Simon (Peter), James, and John (Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:10).
First disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35-40): Andrew was one of two disciples of John who, on John's testimony that Jesus was "the Lamb of God," followed Jesus to where He was staying.
First-called apostle: in the Johannine tradition Andrew is the Protoklētos ("the first-called"), he brought Peter to Jesus (John 1:41-42), making Andrew the one who brought the eventual chief of the apostles to the faith.
Recalled to discipleship at the Sea of Galilee (Matt 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18), where Jesus called both brothers from their nets.
Among the Twelve but not in the innermost circle of three (Peter, James, John). Mentioned by name in: Mark 3:18; Matt 10:2; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13.
Notable Gospel scenes:
Feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:8-9): Andrew brings to Jesus the boy with five loaves and two fish.
The Greeks who wished to see Jesus (John 12:20-22): Greeks approached Philip; Philip consulted Andrew; together they brought the request to Jesus. The fact that Greeks approached Philip and Andrew (both having Greek names) and that Andrew is the trusted go-between with Jesus is significant.
Olivet discourse (Mark 13:3): Andrew with Peter, James, and John ask Jesus privately about the eschatological signs.

Post-resurrection ministry

Acts mentions Andrew only at 1:13 (the upper room) and is silent on his later activity. Patristic tradition fills in:

Scythia (per Eusebius of Caesarea HE 3.1, citing Origen): Andrew was allotted Scythia (the steppe region north of the Black Sea, modern southern Russia / Ukraine). This is the basis for the Russian Orthodox veneration of Andrew as Russia's apostle, even though the Slavic conversion came much later (988, Vladimir of Kiev).
Byzantium: tradition holds that Andrew preached in Byzantium (later Constantinople) and ordained Stachys as its first bishop. This is the basis of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople's claim to apostolic foundation, important in the East-West tension where Rome claimed precedence on the strength of Peter, and Constantinople answered with Andrew (Peter's older brother and the Protoklētos).
Achaia and Patras: Andrew preached throughout Greece, ending at Patras (Achaian coast). According to the apocryphal Acts of Andrew and uniform later tradition, he was crucified at Patras on an X-shaped cross (crux decussata, later called St. Andrew's Cross or saltire) at the order of the proconsul Aegeates, ~AD 60-70. He is said to have preached from the cross for two days before dying.
Confidence level: Scythia and Achaia are reasonably attested in early tradition (Eusebius, Origen); Byzantium is later. The X-cross martyrdom is iconographic-traditional and not securely documented before the medieval period.

Theological themes

The bringer: Andrew's Gospel role is the one who brings others to Jesus, Peter (John 1:42), the boy with loaves (John 6:8), the Greeks (John 12:22). He models personal evangelism and quiet intercession.
The first-called: in Eastern tradition Andrew has theological priority over Peter as the Protoklētos, a counterweight to Roman Petrine-primacy claims.
Patron of Eastern Christianity: through the Constantinopolitan claim, Andrew is patron of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; through the Scythian tradition, patron of Russia, Ukraine, and Romania; through Patras, patron of Greece.

Patron of Scotland

A tradition (probably 8th c.) holds that Andrew's relics were translated to Fife, Scotland (the town now named St. Andrews), making Andrew Scotland's patron saint. The saltire (white X on blue) became Scotland's national flag and component of the Union Jack.