Blessed Andrew, Fool-for-Christ (†936) — October 2 / October 15 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, October 2 according to the Julian Calendar (October 15 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Blessed Andrew, Fool-for-Christ.

Blessed Andrew, Fool-for-Christ, was a Slav. Taken captive in his early youth, he was bought by a wealthy Constantinopolitan, Theognostus, who had him educated in the Greek language and the sciences. The blessed one loved Christ, was distinguished by humility and obedience, prayed often and thought about the salvation of his soul. He diligently read the lives of the saints and at last was fired with the desire to imitate them. Once, in a dream-vision, Andrew saw two armies: one of radiant youths, the other pitch-black, made up of dreadful demons. An angel of the Lord, holding wondrous crowns in his hands, said to the saint: “These crowns are not worldly ornaments but a heavenly treasure. The Lord grants them to those who overcome the black host.” Then he commanded: “Take up the God-pleasing struggle, assume foolishness for Christ’s name, and a great gift will await you in the Kingdom.” From that day Andrew began to walk the streets of the city in rags like a madman. At night, standing in prayer, the fool-for-Christ entrusted to the Lord himself, those who insulted him, and the whole of Christendom. Many years passed in this way. For his unceasing labor God granted His chosen one the gifts of prophecy and clairvoyance.

At that time there lived in the city a pious ascetic elder who had fallen captive to love of money. He had settled near the marketplace in the hope that his spiritual children coming out to trade would not come to him empty-handed. God revealed to the fool-for-Christ the true state of this father: He showed him a dreadful serpent coiled around the elder’s neck. Seized with grief, the saint soon humbly approached the elder, lovingly rebuked him and said: “Your soul had wings like a seraph’s — why did you let the evil one clip them? You bore the image of an angel — why did you make yourself like the devil? Why do you hoard treasure — will you be buried with it? When you unceasingly gather silver from your spiritual children and rejoice, you are heaping their sins upon your own head. How will you stand before Christ with so heavy a burden? Distribute your treasure to the poor, to orphans, widows and strangers, or you will perish. Do you see the demon?” At these words the elder’s spiritual eyes were opened, and he saw in the corner of the room a beast-like black giant gnashing its teeth. The elder trembled with fear and could barely utter: “From now on I will live only by the Lord’s commandments.” As soon as these words were spoken, lightning flashed in the east, the evil spirit vanished, and a smiling angel approached the elder. By his impartial rebukes the saint rescued many others who had strayed and were enslaved to sin from perishing.

While praying in the Blachernae church, Andrew the Fool was deemed worthy to see with his own eyes the Theotokos, who spread her veil over the worshippers gathered there (see the reading for October 1). The Lord’s chosen one reposed in the year 936.