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        The four nations of the British Isles—England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales—maintain national days named after patron saints: St. George, St. Patrick, St. Andrew, and St. David, respectively. Two of these, St. Patrick and St. David, were historical persons important to the religious and political growth of their nations. England (like a lot of places) adopted St. George, likely a historical figure from Asia Minor who had never heard of England, but represented chivalric ideals admired by the English from the time of the Crusades. But what is Scotland’s association with and attachment to St. Andrew?

THE 1ST CENTURY — FROM SIMPLE FISHERMAN TO APOSTLE
         The St. Andrew in question is the very same brother of St. Peter and Apostle of Jesus Christ whose first century AD life took him from Galilee fisherman to early evangelist of Christianity and ultimately to a (possible) martyr’s death by crucifixion on a distinctive X-shaped cross. The legend of St. Andrew—historic fact cannot be ascertained here—tells us the Romans crucified Andrew on November 30, 60AD, for preaching Christianity in southern Greece and that his remains were placed in a tomb.

THE DARK AGES — FROM GREECE TO TURKEY TO ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND
        Almost 300 years later, when the Roman Emperor Constantine converted the republic to Christianity, he ordered Andrew’s bones

THE MIDDLE AGES — ST. ANDREW'S CATHEDRAL
        Three or more centuries pass until the building of St. Andrews Cathedral in (begun in 1160; consecrated 1318) made the future home of golf Scotland’s center for

Christianity. The relics of St. Andrews in St.

ST. RULE'S CHURCH AT ST. ANDREW'S CATHEDRAL
Photo © HOME AT FIRST

Andrews Cathedral became a pilgrimage goal for British Christians throughout the Middle Ages. That the bones of St. Andrew were ever in the cathedral that bears his name cannot be proved. They are not there now. The cathedral itself is but a ruin, having suffered catastrophic fires, pillaging by the English army, ransacking by anti-Catholic Presbyterians incited by John Knox, and, finally, the taking of the very building blocks of the medieval church by the builders of 17th century St. Andrews town. But among the ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, visitors will find St. Rule’s Tower and a plaque

noting where the saint’s relics once lay when the church stood.

MORE RELICS — FROM TURKEY TO ITALY TO EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
        After the fall of Constantinople to Islamic Turks, Crusaders took the remaining relics of St. Andrew in 1210. They worked their way to Amalfi, Italy, where they remain—except for a small piece of bone sent to Scotland’s reborn Roman Catholic church community, where they are now on display at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh. In 1969 more bones from St. Andrew were presented to Scotland’s first Catholic Cardinal of modern times, Gordon Gray.

SCOTTISH NATIONALISM
        Scottish nationalism has been associated with St. Andrew since the time his bones first came to Scotland. One story has King Angus McFergus — shortly after receiving the relics of St. Andrew — receiving a vision of the Apostle prior to fighting and winning a battle with the English at a place called Athelstaneford. On the morning of the battle, white clouds crossed overhead against the blue sky, forming the Saltire Cross of St. Andrew, a vision that became the flag of Scotland.
        By the Middle Ages St. Andrew and his cross were widely associated with Scotland. Scottish hero William Wallace ("Braveheart") famously painted the blue and white Saltire on his face before entering battle. The great victory of Scottish independence from the English, at Bannockburn in 1314, was commemorated at the 1318 consecration of St. Andrews Cathedral. Andrew was officially made the nation’s patron saint when Scotland declared its independence from England signed by Robert the Bruce and other Scottish nobles at Arbroath in 1320. Thereafter, Scottish coins began displaying the Cross of St. Andrew, and the cross was made part of official Scottish military insignia. In the 18th century, when Scotland was merged into the United Kingdom, the Cross of St. Andrew was merged with England’s Cross of St. George to form the double cross of the Union Jack.

TOWARD A SCOTTISH NATIONAL HOLIDAY —
ST. ANDREW'S DAY
        St. Andrew’s Day, November 30, like the national days of the other countries of the British Isles, is not a "bank holiday", where government offices, schools, banks, stores and businesses close. In Scotland and among Scottish communities elsewhere the day is celebrated as a cultural feast day, with traditional food, drink, music, and dancing. It is a day when you might see a few kilts out and about, and hear the discordant droning of the bagpipe in places not necessarily expecting tourists. November 30 is also a day often reserved for symbolic Scottish ceremony, as it was in 1996 when the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland after 700 years in English hands. In 1999 Queen Elizabeth II opened

Stirling Castle -- in Central Scotland
 within sight of Bannockburn -- has
been restored to its medieval glory
when it was home to Scottish royalty.
Photo © HOME AT FIRST

the restored Great Hall at Stirling Castle, reestablishing

it to its former medieval glory from the days of the great Stewart kings. That same year, Scotland regained much of the status of an independent nation, electing its first parliament in almost three centuries. Above the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh once again flew the Cross of St. Andrew, probably the oldest extent national flag in Europe.

This article comes from Home At First's exclusive
"Scotland Activities Guide" that comes to you as part of your trip.
 
Learn all about Home At First's travel programs to: SCOTLAND
 
Home At First offers travel to five great regions of Scotland. Have your own cottage or
apartment in CENTRAL SCOTLAND, INVERNESS & THE NORTHERN HIGHLANDS, THE SOUTHERN SCOTTISH BORDERS, or in the cities of EDINBURGH, and GLASGOW.
Minimum rental is one week, and you can mix and match with other Home At First destinations
throughout ENGLAND, WALES, and IRELAND. For complete information about travel with
Home At First to the British Isles, see: Britain & Ireland.