ST ANDREW & THE SALTIRE

Our Scotsman considers the origin story of our patron saint and his iconic symbol

ROBIN MCKELVIE

Saint Andrew’s Day is massive in Scotland, our official national day on 30 November, celebrated with cèilidhs, concerts and generally all things Scottish. But how did it come to be? Who was Saint Andrew and why is he is such a symbol of Scotland that our Saltire flag is the shape of the cross on which the martyred saint was crucified in AD60? Saint Andrew is, of course, not unique to Scotland. He is the patron saint too of Cyprus, Patras in Greece (where he was crucified), Romania, and Tenerife. He is also (strikingly in these times) the patron saint of both Russia and Ukraine. Other countries often work the ‘Saltire’ shape – the type of crucifixion cross he chose as he deemed himself unworthy of using the shape Jesus…

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Scotland (Digital) - 1 Issue, November - December 2024

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