Sunday, August 20, 2017

Andrew Dies a Martyr with 2,593 of His Faithful Soldiers

Andrew Dies a Martyr with 2,593 of His Faithful Soldiers
On The Day August 19 302AD

Khen Lim

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Andrew the Stratelates (Image source: Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada)

Not a lot is known about this Syrian man known only by his first name, Andrew, but in the reign of Emperor Maximian (250-310AD), he was a military tribune in the Roman army much loved and respected by the soldiers as much for his bravery and invincibility as for his fairness in command. 
Under Maximian’s rule, the Roman Syrian territories were constantly menaced by enemies looking to exploit whatever vulnerabilities and invade. 
That one time, a large Persian army had gathered to attack with a suddenness that took governor Antiochus by surprise. The threat was serious enough for him to despatch the trusted Roman army captain Andrew and to allow him the freedom to tailor an imperial army of his choice but not before he summoned him to join his inner council. 

There, he addressed Andrew, saying, “Your valiant deeds and the many distinctions which you have won against the enemy are known both to me and to him who holds the sceptre. You have been chosen because of them and because of your rank. I entrust to your valour this great and unexpected war in order that your reputation will grow even more through the present conflict.” Antiochus also bestowed upon him the prestigious title ‘Stratelates,’ meaning Commander or General.
With that command, Andrew handpicked only a small 1,000-strong army of brave soldiers in much the same way as Gideon, successor to Moses, did with his 300 men to overcome Israel’s enemies almost 1,500 years earlier (Jdg 7:1). 
It was a bold – some might say suicidal – strategy considering the formidable odds that were stacked against him. With the Persians numbering thousands more, the chance of victory looked uncomfortably slim and improbable. But Andrew did not place his trust on men but on a Living God whom he believed would carry them into victory.
To do that, he had to explain his strategy to his men. Though not baptised yet, he was already a believer in Christ and it was highly likely that he would have read about Gideon, knowing not to trust in numbers nor in weapons or armour but instead only in Christ. His idea therefore was to bring his men to Christ by revealing to them the hand of God. With his choicest soldiers at hand and the moment of battle drawing close, Andrew then explained his decision to them, saying:
“This is the right time for you to come to a full knowledge of God in heaven. For you will immediately recognise that the gods of the pagans are really demons. My God, the One who made Heaven and Earth, is the true God. Accordingly, since He is all-powerful, He helps those who call upon Him. He reveals them mighty in war, and they ward off the attacks of their enemies. So, behold! See that the enemy stands opposite us in large numbers and have proved stronger than us until now. But come on, put aside your error, call, with me, upon He who is truly God and you will see them dead and driven away before you, like smoke or dust from the threshing floor.”
Unlike the pagan gods that were nothing but demons that would never help them in battle, Andrew proclaimed the Lord Jesus Christ, the all-powerful God who would bring victory to those who believe in Him. For his soldiers who were pagans, this was all new but even so, they believed what their leader said especially in light of how the immense danger that the powerful Persians posed.
Together in prayer, Andrew and his men invoked Christ for assistance in victory over the Persians. And then in their zeal and faith, they launched their assault, ripping in to their enemy and then putting them to flight. As unseemly as it was, they were incredibly victorious. The supernatural experience was so overwhelming and by being direct witness to the power of God’s hand in battle and the ensuing miracle, the faith of the men was so strengthened that Andrew could lead them to the knowledge of the Lord. Inevitably, to God’s glory, all the men joined in the spreading of the Gospel.
In glorious triumph, Andrew and his small army returned to Antioch and were fittingly showered with rewards at the governor’s court. Yet although their victory was popular, there were those jealous enough to criticise him to Antiochus, revealing his love of Christ and how he had converted them. Being an idolater, Antiochus was appalled by how Andrew’s detractors said that he had ‘gone mad’ spreading the Word of God. Angered by what he was told, the governor turned to his intelligentsia for verification.
Summarily Andrew together with a few of his men were summoned to appear before him. In his presence, the men pronounced their faith in Christ, drawing not just his ire but compelled Antiochus to threaten them with torture:
“Since you know how, and with what sort of tortures, I killed Eutychius, the son of Polyeuctus, and many of those with him who had confessed their faith in Christ and that I did not take pity on them,” he said, “with what object or hope do you now make your case on behalf of the Crucified One?”
This was a man who had no qualms torturing and killing countless Christians before and this fact was made known to the men in the hope that fear would make them back down and renounce Christ. But if anything, all of that merely emboldened Andrew for he took the threat as proof that there were indeed other believers in Christ who stood the test of torment. In his boldness, he said to Antiochus:
“You greatly strengthen my resistance by the things, which you have said. For if all those you named, having been inflicted with terrible tortures by your authority, have emerged victors, and carry their athletic crowns in the presence of Christ, who is God, why would I, a friend or rather servant of my Lord Jesus Christ, not be eager also to remain forever constant, in order to enjoy the same rewards with them?”
For all that, Antiochus ordered Andrew to confess before all those in his presence whether he would obey the commands of the emperor or of God. When he courageously confessed Christ, the governor decided that a wicked punishment was in order for him. In utter sarcasm, Antiochus said, “Since Andrew has clearly achieved many things in the wars and has been crowned for not a few victories, we have contrived for him to find a means of rest and relaxation.”
And with that, began Andrew’s suffering. So too his men. He was laid on to a heated metal bed – some say bronze, others say copper – and his men were similarly tortured also. Intense pain wracked through his body, burning and shaking him but even in his suffering, he sought the Lord’s help and apparently, the bed cooled. As for a few of his men, Antiochus had them stretch out their hands and then had them nailed to wood in Andrew’s presence. Smiling wickedly, he asked if they were enjoying the treatment.
With great courage, they replied, “Would that we were imitating Christ who was nailed to the wood of the Cross for us.” Angered by such a response, Antiochus turned to Andrew and asked if he would recant if he were to be subjected to the same painful torture. In replying, Andrew said he’d been waiting and longing for the crown of those who endured until the end and would not part from those being tried with him.
As it turned out, none of them renounced Christ. Antiochus had Andrew flung into prison feigning to give him time to reconsider and recant but in truth, he was simply and secretly awaiting Maximian’s response from Rome as to what next to do. 
The governor was contemplating a death sentence but wasn’t sure if that was the right move. He was only all too aware of Andrew’s popularity among not just the people but also the army. To execute him so openly would be to incite a rebellion that they might not be able to quell. And in undermining public confidence in justice meted, they themselves could lose power.
In Maximian’s reply, the emperor expressed his desire to have him and his other men released from prison and then pardoned in an act to gain conciliation with the people. But the hidden truth behind this was to pursue them in secret for a little while before they find the perfect excuse to kill them all. For now, he would let them walk ‘free.’
On his release, divine intervention revealed to Andrew of the emperor’s intended deceit and so he waited for those who had suffered alongside him and all the rest – totally, 2,593 men – and together, they set forth for Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia (present-day Çukurova in Turkey), located south-east of the peninsular of Asia Minor on the Mediterranean coast. Not having been baptised, he had long felt the need for he – and now, also his men – to do so and there and then, they were baptised by the local Bishop Peter and also Bishop Nonnus of Beroea.
On learning of their departure and then their baptism, Antiochus was riled. Since he was a Christian-hating pagan, the outburst was hardly surprising. After discussions with his advisors to whom he revealed his communique with Maximian, he despatched a letter to Seleucus, the military commander of Cilicia, stating:
“I presume that you have already heard about Andrew who was previously a general of our greatest emperors but now has not only surrendered himself to madness but has also roused most of the soldiers who were with him to hostility towards the commands of our emperors. Since I have learned that he has departed secretly from here and now lives in the province of Cilicia, let your clemency, in obedience to the imperial aim, pursue him and those with him, and surrender them to our hands captive and bound. If they should attempt to resist or escape, destroy them with the swords of your soldiers.”
Seleucus was no different to Antiochus. His antagonism against Christians and Christianity was well known in the whole of the province he commanded. After he received Antiochus’ letter, he gathered some light infantry and set out towards Tarsus where he was informed Andrew and his men were. 
On learning of Seleucus’ mission, Andrew realised no peace would be had for them to stay and with haste, they made tracks for Taxanitis en route to the Taurus Mountains* and then onwards to the territory of Tamaline. Even so, they were not fleeing out of fear but instead were filled in the desire to fulfil God’s will, which says, “When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.” (Mt 10:23, NLT).  
* The Taurus Mountains are located north and east of Cilicia and separate it from the Anatolian Plateau, which is pierced by a narrow gorge called the Cilician Gates in antiquity times. It is here in the glaciers of the eastern Taurus Mountains that the famous Tigris River finds its source.
From Tamaline, Andrew and his men set forth for the village of Orchesti in Armenia Prima, which was not far from the city of Melitine. Thereafter, they reached the regions of Chausorius and then, Charabates. All through his attempt to track the men, Seleucus was confused. Even in his determination to pursue them, he was at a loss trying to figure out Andrew’s choice of route until a certain man called Martinus approached and explained to him that they had chosen a side route through the Taurus Mountains.
On learning this, Seleucus quickly headed for Chausorius but not before Andrew and his men left for a region called Androcalon, not far from Orchesti. There, they went for the straits of the Taurus where two opposing mountain peaks were so close to one another to almost join, resulting in a very narrow ravine-like path that was almost impassable. 
To mere mortals, this might sound like a bad move but to Andrew, he knew perfectly that reaching this place was the outcome of no less a divine revelation. They were here as pre-ordained and in perfect accordance to how one enters the Kingdom of God through the narrow and straitened path. Once there, they stopped travelling further for they knew this to be where God had wanted them.
Seleucus arrived shortly thereafter. From afar, he saw the narrowed straits where Andrew and his men were. He decided to send a reconnaissance team to track behind them. But of course, Andrew, being a very capable and acclaimed army general himself, was only too aware of Seleucus and what he had set out to do in pursuit. So he exhorted himself and those with him into prayer:
“O beloved soldiers and children of mine, now is the welcome time of decision and day of salvation. Let us stand in love of God, let us stand in moderation, just as God ordered us, lifting our hands not to ward off the persecutors but in praise of the God who has deemed us worthy to reach this hour, that we may obtain a share and portion among all the blessed. We will beseech and invoke Him, saying that which the famous Stephen, first of the martyrs, said as he was being stoned, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, receive the souls of your servants for into Your hands we commend them.’”
Perched in the centre with all his men surrounding him, Andrew raised his hands and eyes towards heaven. Prayerfully, he said:
“O God, great and almighty, accept my prayer, me a sinner and unworthy servant of God, and that of all those with me who have unswervingly preserved their faith in You, and grant to all their requests for salvation. Protect those who flee to this place and saving them from all evil and need, grant them sanctity of body and soul. And where our humble blood flows, let there be a healing spring there and the condemnation and casting out of evil spirits, to the glory of Your blessed, holy and awe-inspiring Name, and that of Your only Begotten Son, our God, Jesus Christ, and of Your holy and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.”
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Image source: crkvenikalendar.com
Almost right after the completion of the prayer, on this very day, one-thousand seven-hundred and fifteen years ago, in 302AD, at around 8:00 in the morning, Seleucus’ infantry pounced on them but in truth, they needn’t have to for Andrew and his men were seemingly innocent lambs that had been led to total surrender in peace and quiet, in imitation of their common Lord. 
Flailing swords abound, bellowing like madmen, the pagan soldiers killed all of them and bloodied the nearby river. None of them defended themselves. None lifted a sword for protection. Instead, they heeded Andrew’s call to die a martyr’s death for Christ.
And just as Andrew had prayed, a spring poured forth right where their blood had drenched and from there, a litany of cures came. This spring continues to flow in great abundance today and apparently still provides curative power.
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Image source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
Bishops Peter of Tarsus and Nonnus of Beroea, who performed the baptism upon all these men, had quietly brought their clergy including the deacons Theodulus and Synesius including the readers Marinus, Nicolaus, Eusebius and Lamyrion, to help give Andrew and his men an honourable burial fitting of martyrs right where they were slain. 
On their return home, they avoided routes through Cilicia knowing that Seleucus could lay waiting in order to capture Peter who was responsible for baptising Andrew. Instead, God led them to return via Isauria in peace while praising and glorifying Him.
On the same day, the Roman Catholic Church as well as the Eastern Orthodox Church made every single one of them martyrs.

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