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St. Andrew the Archbishop of Crete; Venerable Martha

July 3, 2026 · 1 min read

Orthodox Calendar July 4 Saint Andrew, Archbishop of Crete He was born in the city of Damascus into a pious Christian family. Up until seven years of age the boy was mute and did not talk. However, after communing the Holy Mysteries of Christ he found the gift of speech and began to speak. And from that time the lad began earnestly to study Holy Scripture and the discipline of theology.

At fourteen years of age he went off to Jerusalem and there he accepted monastic tonsure at the monastery of Saint Sava the Sanctified. Saint Andrew led a strict and chaste life, he was meek and abstinent, such that all were amazed at his virtue and reasoning of mind.

As a man of talent and known for his virtuous life, over the passage of time he came to be numbered among the Jerusalem clergy and was appointed a secretary for the Patriarchate — a writing clerk.

In the year 680 the locum tenens of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, Theodore, included archdeacon Andrew among the representatives of the Holy City sent to the Sixth Ecumenical Council, and here the saint contended against heretical teachings, relying upon his profound knowledge of Orthodox doctrine. S

hortly after the Council he was…

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💬 Comments (30) 🌐 Show original

Галина Голубева

In our parish, when the children do not speak for a long time, we pray in front of the icon of St. Nicholas in Ruse. As in the article about St. Andrew - after communion he began to speak at the age of seven, and we usually pray for children from the age of two.

Василий Петров

In our parish, they also place the icon of St. Nicholas in Ruse at the entrance, and they pray for children from the age of two, just like you. I remember my neighbor’s daughter didn’t speak until she was five, and then we prayed in front of this icon—at the age of seven she began to pronounce words clearly.

Роман Богданов

I remembered that in our parish they also told about a girl who did not speak until she was five, like St. Andrew until she was seven. After praying at the icon of Nicholas in Ruse, a year later she began to speak clearly. I firmly believe that God hears such prayers.

Teodora Popescu

In our parish, too, we have heard of children who did not speak until they were 4-5 years old, and after they prayed before the icon of St. Nicholas in Ruse, they began to speak clearly. But St. Andrew received the gift of speech precisely after communion at the age of 7, not just from prayer. This seems to me the most valuable detail in the text.

Василь Петренко

In Odesa, I also saw parents praying in front of the icon of St. Nicholas for their children who do not speak. In the article, it is written that St. Andrew received the gift of speech after Holy Communion at the age of seven, and in our parish one girl after prayer began to pronounce words clearly at the age of five. God hears when we ask with faith.

Илья Павлов

This happened in our family too - the nephew was silent until four, and after communion on the day of the Angel he suddenly began to give out whole sentences. I wonder, has this icon of St. Nicholas of Rusa been venerated in your parish for a long time or has it already been brought to me?

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სალომე ნოზაძე

In Kutaisi, we also prayed in front of the icon of St. Nicholas, when a neighbor's boy did not speak a word for four years. After partaking in seven years, as with St. Andrew in the article, suddenly he began to put whole phrases together. Interestingly, the icon from Russia has been standing in your parish for a long time?

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ვახტანგ აბაშიძე

Salome, that's a really amazing story about your neighbor's boy—just like Andre's story. The icon of Nicholas brought to us from Russia has been standing in the church for ten years, near the right wall, where people often tell stories of similar healings. Which church was there in your Kutaisi where they prayed?

Radu Rusu

Yes, that communion at 7 years seems to be the crux of the story. In our parish, I also saw a boy who started talking after receiving his first communion, but he was younger, about 3 and a half years old. Do you think it is more the direct grace of the Eucharist or does the preparation in advance, the prayer of the family also matter?

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ნათია კვარაცხელია

In Vakhtang, Kutais, they used to go to St. George's Cathedral, near the house. If you are talking about the icon of Nicholas, we also have a small one, standing at home, and children often pray with it. You told the story of your neighbor in an interesting way, it is really similar to Andre's story.

Ioana Stoica

Yes, communion seems to be the core, Radu. Here in Craiova, we heard of a 5-year-old child who started saying prayers clearly after the first communion, although until then he was barely babbling. I think the grace of the Eucharist works directly, but the prayer of the grandparents and the fasting of the mother before taking him to church mattered a lot. What do you think, did he speak immediately after or did it take a few more days?

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ალექსანდრე წიკლაური

Natia, it's good that children pray at the icon of Nicholas, it was the same with my son when he was little. The story of Vakhtang's neighbor is really similar to the story of Andre's childhood, and I think that such things often happen when a person sincerely seeks God. On which feast of St. George did they mostly go to your church?

Дарья Виноградова

Here in Tula, too, many mothers from the age of two turn to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker when the child is silent. But after Communion, like St. Andrew, my son began to speak at all at the age of three - before that he only mooed. Where exactly is the icon from Rusa kept in your parish, at the altar or at the entrance?

Ioana Stan

Yes, the communion at 7 years is really the detail that impressed me the most. Here in Constanța, we met a little girl who started speaking clearly after her first communion, but she was almost 6 years old and her parents had been praying for a long time before. Do you think age matters so much or is it more the time when the heart is ready to receive?

Corina Stan

Yes, that communion at 7 years is clearly the core, Radu. Here in Timișoara, we heard of a 4-year-old girl who started singing in the pew after her first communion, although before she did not make a clear sound. I think grace works directly, but also the prayer of the father who fasted with her before mattered a lot. What do you think, does the preparation of the family make the difference or is it especially the moment of communion?

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ლევან აბაშიძე

Salome, that's a really cool story about your neighbor's boy—just like Andre's story. We are often told that after praying to the icon of Nicholas, children start talking. Which church was in Kutais where they went?

ნანა კვარაცხელია

Levan, there are really amazing similarities in the story. Our neighbor's boy also opened his mouth after praying at the icon of Nicholas, they were going to St. George's Cathedral in Kutaisi. Which icon or church do your friends mention more often?

Ioana Popa

Yes, that communion at 7 years changes everything, Corina. Here in Sibiu, we saw a 5-year-old boy who began to pray out loud after his first communion, although until then he was only murmuring. I think grace works first, but the fasting and prayer of the parents prepares the heart just as you say. Have you ever heard of cases from Timișoara?

ვახტანგ ბერიძე

Indeed, Levan, my neighbor was told exactly the same story - the boy did not speak until he was seven years old, and one day after praying to the icon of Nicholas, he began to speak. St. George's Cathedral of Kutaisi is mentioned most often, and which church or icon helped your acquaintances the most?

ანა აბაშიძე

Indeed, Vakhtang, this is exactly what happened to my niece - she did not speak until she was seven years old, when she was brought to the icon of Our Lady of Zion, she started speaking the very next day. Many people mention the Cathedral of George in Kutaisi, but the icon of St. Nino in Telavi is also often mentioned in such news. Which icon helped your neighbor the most?

Григорий Голубев

My eldest, too, after Communion, seemed to burst into speech, only not at three, but at four and a half. And we keep the icon of Andrew of Crete to the right of the entrance, on a lectern near the candle box, and many people go there. And Nikolai has been in Tula since he was two years old - this is probably because he helps quickly, right?

ანა კაპანაძე

Indeed, Vakhtang, my married niece was told exactly the same way - she was mute until the age of seven, and after praying at the icon of St. Andrew, she uttered her first words in the evening. Many people mention the Cathedral of George in Kutaisi, but the icon of St. Nino in Telavi is also often mentioned. Which icon or church helped your neighbor the most?

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თამარ წიკლაური

Indeed, Vakhtang, my niece was told exactly the same - she did not speak until she was seven years old, and after praying at the icon of St. Andrew, she started the very next day. George's Cathedral of Kutaisi is often mentioned in these news, but which icon or church helped your neighbor the most?

It's a really interesting story, Anna, the case of your niece happened exactly like that. And my neighbor was helped more by the icon of St. Andrew, when he was visiting the Telavi monastery. What miracle did you hear about your Nino icon lately?

Really, Tamar, it's amazing news with your niece. And my neighbor was helped the most by the icon of St. Andrew, which he had at home - he started talking on the first day after the prayer. Have there been any such cases in your family?

ლევან ჯავახიშვილი

Indeed, Alexander, it is amazing how the icon of St. Andrew works. My cousin's speech also improved after a week of prayer as a child, though not immediately. At what age did your neighbor have this problem?

Indeed, history is amazing. My neighbor's boy didn't speak until he was seven years old, but after Holy Communion he opened his tongue and now he is the best student in school. What miracle did you hear about your Nino icon lately?

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ქეთევან მამულაშვილი

It is true, Levan, that muteness in childhood is often corrected by prayer and communion. My niece also had a problem with her speech at the age of three, but after going to church regularly, she gradually got over it. At what age did your cousin start this?

ნინო კაპანაძე

True, Levan, the story of St. Andrea reminds me very much that sometimes the conversation does not come immediately, but over time. My son had a similar delay when he was little, but regular prayer and communion helped. And how old was your cousin when it started?

თორნიკე კვარაცხელია

Indeed, Vakhtang, the story of your neighbor reminds me very much of the story of St. Andrew. My son is also often told at school that he will sit more calmly in classes after communion. I haven't heard anything about Nino's icon lately, have you heard anything new?