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July 4: Saint Andreas, Archbishop of Crete celebratestranslated

July 4, 2026 · 1 min read

Today, July 4, the Church honors the memory of Saints Andrew, Archbishop of Crete, the poet, and Michael Choniatos, Archbishop of Athens (†1220). We also celebrate the finding of the Relic of Saint Anisia, which is kept in the church of Saint Demetrius in the queen of Thermaikos, Thessaloniki.

By LAMBROS K. SKONTZOU, Theologian - Professor

Saint Andreas of Crete: The poet of the Great Canon On Thursday of the 5th week of Lent, the Great Canon is sung in our Church, the excellent poem of Saint Andrew of Crete, one of the greatest poets and orators of our Church.

Saint Andrew was born in Damascus, Syria in the year 660 to pious Greek parents, George and Gregory. Because he was mute until the age of eight, he was dedicated to the service of the Church, as an act of gratitude to God. Along with piety, they also gave him a serious education. At the age of fifteen he went with his parents to Jerusalem, where Patriarch Theodore placed him under his protection. In 678 he became a monk, then he was ordained a deacon and promoted to an official of the patriarchal court (notary). Early on he showed unusual action,…

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Марина Иванова

I was amazed that St. Andrey was mute until he was 8 years old. We have a girl in our church with dyslalia, and her mother prays for her every day as if she were a saint. How much patience is needed to cure it!

Стефан Ристески

I was also struck by the part about St. Andrei who was mute until the age of 8. Here in Strumica, we had a boy in the church who had difficulty speaking, and his mother stood at the liturgy every day and took him to communion. Now he sings in the choir, and I always remember that when I read him about the Middle Canon. How much patience is needed, true.

Никола Ангеловски

Yes, Stefan, I was touched by that part too. Here in Skopje, we had a grandmother who brought a grandson with a similar problem to Liturgy in the church "St. Dimitrij" and now that boy is already helping at the altar. The patience of parents really works wonders. You from Strumica, do you often go to the church there?

Sophia Bennett

The part about him being mute until age 8 really struck me too. My own nephew in Wichita had speech delays and the way those Macedonian mothers kept bringing their kids to liturgy every single Sunday reminds me exactly of what my sister did. Patience really does work wonders, doesn’t it?

Валентина Фёдорова

Marina, yes, this place in life also touched me - he was silent until he was eight years old, and then he spoke and became one of the main church poets. For your girl with dyslalia, things will probably also gradually improve, especially with such a prayer from her mother. Have you tried giving her an icon of Andrei Kritsky, so that she herself would address him?

Христина Петренко

We also have a mother in Lviv, in the church of St. Andrew on Pidzamchi, who brings her son with a speech problem to the service every day. After reading about St. Andrew, who was silent until the age of eight, and then became the creator of the Great Canon, she placed his icon next to the analogue. Patience really does take its toll.

Василь Коваль

I also had a family in Poltava in our church, the boy almost did not speak until the age of seven. His mother brought him to the service every time, placed him next to the icon of St. Andrew of Crete and quietly prayed. Now he is already reading the Apostle, and every time I hear about this moment in life, I remember them. Patience really does go a long way.

Петро Гончар

Interesting story, Christina. In Lviv on Pidzamcha, you say? It's good that the mother is not waiting for an instant miracle, but simply takes the boy every day and put the icon precisely because the saint was also silent for a long time. Maybe you can tell me later how things are going with them?

Софья Зайцева

Yes, Valentina, this place in life is really touching - he was silent until he was eight years old, and then he wrote such canons. Our granddaughter is also slowly improving her speech, we have already placed an icon of Andrei Kritsky by her bed, she herself sometimes kisses the cross before going to bed. In which church do you usually serve the Great Canon?

Laura Baker

The bit about him being mute till eight really hit home for me too. We had a little boy in our Chicago parish who barely spoke until he was seven, and his mom just kept bringing him to every service without fuss. Patience and the rhythm of church life do more than we give them credit for, don't they? How's your nephew doing these days?

Степан Лисенко

An interesting story from Poltava, thank you for telling it. There was also a similar family in our Kharkiv church - the girl almost did not speak until she was five years old, and after her grandmother began to take her regularly to the icon of St. Andrew, words appeared. Indeed, patience and prayer do more than we think. And how is that boy now, does he continue to serve in the church?