Andrew

Saint Andrew of Crete is commemorated on 21 October (new style, the Greek calendar) together with Stephen, Paul and Peter, four martyrs whom the synaxaria call newly manifested. They suffered in the time of the emperor Constantine Copronymus.

Andrew was a monk, a native of Crete. After rebuking Copronymus he was beheaded and buried in the place called Krisis, where he is also commemorated on 17 October as a venerable martyr. The other three, probably also monks, firmly defended the holy Orthodox canons and were likewise beheaded by Copronymus. A verse of the synaxarion says that Stephen has beside him, as fellow crowned ones, the three who contested with him by a single sword.