Martyr Andrew Stratelates and those with him

died c. 300

Also known as Andrew the Tribune · 2,593 soldiers

A Roman commander in Cilicia who led his soldiers to faith in Christ and was martyred with 2,593 of them under Maximian.

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Commemorated as

The Holy Glorious Great-Martyr Andrew Stratelates and the 2,593 Martyrs with Him

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Military Service

Life

Andrew Stratelates was a Roman military commander in Asia Minor who, together with a large body of soldiers under his command, was put to death for confessing Christ. His title 'Stratelates' means 'Commander,' and the tradition surrounding him centers on a campaign against a Persian army during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305), after which his profession of faith led to the martyrdom of himself and the soldiers he had led to Christ.

The synaxarion numbers those who suffered with him at 2,593, and the commemoration preserves them as a single company rather than as separate names. Their feast is kept on 19 August.

Troparion & Kontakion2 hymnsReadHide

TroparionTone 5

You renounced the glory of earthly rank
and inherited the kingdom of heaven;
you adorned your incorruptible crown as with beautiful stones.
You led an army of martyrs to Christ,
and with the angels in the never-fading light
you found Christ the never-setting sun.
Together with those who suffered with you,
holy general Andrew,
ever pray to Him that He may save our souls.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

KontakionTone 4

Standing before the Lord in prayer like a star near the sun,
you were filled with ineffable joy beholding your desire: the treasure of the kingdom.
You sing without ceasing to the immortal King
together with the angels throughout the ages.
With them, general Andrew, unceasingly pray for us all.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline3 momentsReadHide

reign of Maximian (284-305)Command against the PersiansWhen a large Persian army invaded the Syrian territories, the governor Antiochus entrusted Andrew with command of the Roman army; with a small detachment he routed the larger Persian force.
after the campaignDenunciation and baptismDenounced to Antiochus as a Christian who had converted his soldiers, Andrew went with his faithful soldiers to Tarsus, where they were baptized by Bishop Peter and Bishop Nonos of Beroea.
c. 300Martyrdom in the Taurus passesFleeing toward Mount Taurus, the company was ambushed in a mountain gorge, where Andrew and all 2,593 soldiers were put to the sword.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributionsReadHide

The Campaign and Conversion

According to the tradition, Andrew held the office of Stratelates, or commander, during the reign of Maximian. When a Persian army invaded the Syrian territories, the governor Antiochus entrusted him with command of the Roman forces. Before engaging the enemy, Andrew is said to have persuaded the soldiers of his small detachment to call upon Christ rather than the pagan gods, which he held to be demons, and proclaimed Jesus Christ as the God of heaven and earth. With this small force he defeated the much larger Persian host.

His victory, rather than securing his standing, exposed him: certain men denounced him to Antiochus as a Christian who had converted the soldiers under his command. Andrew was subjected to torture, and some of his soldiers were crucified while others were imprisoned.

Baptism and Martyrdom

Andrew went with his faithful soldiers to Tarsus, where they were baptized by the local bishop Peter together with Bishop Nonos of Beroea. After further persecution they withdrew toward Mount Taurus. In a deep gorge within the mountains the Roman army overtook and ambushed them, and Andrew together with all 2,593 soldiers was slain, the steadfast martyrs being beheaded with swords. The tradition places their death around the year 300.

One account relates that, as Andrew prayed, a spring of water issued from the ground, and that a member of the clergy who drank from it was healed.

Companions1 figureShowHide

Bishops who baptized Andrew and his soldiers at Tarsus before their martyrdom.

Bishop Peter of Tarsus and Bishop Nonos of Beroea

Related Saints4 saintsShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Fellow soldier-martyr who, like Andrew, bore the title Stratelates (commander) and confessed Christ before a pagan ruler.

Greatmartyr Theodore Stratelates

Fellow soldier-martyr of the early-fourth-century persecutions, venerated among the warrior-saints.

Great Martyr Georgethe Trophy-bearer

Fellow soldier-martyr venerated among the great warrior-saints of the Church.

Great Martyr Demetriusthe Myrrh-streamer

Fellow soldier-martyr, a military officer who turned to Christ and was beheaded under Diocletian.

Great Martyr Procopiusof Caesarea

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints