 | In 345,
Emperor Constantine
the Great decided to translate Andrew's bones from Patras to Constantinople.
Saint Regulus was instructed by an angel
to take many of these relics
to the far northwest. He was eventally told to stop on the Fife coast of
Scotland,
where he founded the settlement of Saint Andrew.
| In the 7th
century, Saint Wilfrid brought some of the saint's relics
with him after a pilgrimage
to Rome.
The Scots king, Angus MacFergus, installed them at Saint Andrew's to
enhance the prestige of the new diocese.
| When the Pictish
King
Angus faced a large invading army, he prayed for guidance. A white cloud
in the form of a saltire cross floated across the blue sky above him.
Angus won a decisive victory, and decreed that Andrew would be the
patron saint of his country. Following Robert Bruce's victory at the
Battle of Bannockburn in 1314,
the Declaration of Arbroath officially named Saint Andrew the patron
saint of Scotland.
The Saltire became the national flag of Scotland
in 1385. |
| |
![[Saint Andrew stained glass]](sta12007.jpg "35kb jpg photograph of Saint Andrew stained glass window; artist unknown; from Immaculate Conception Church, Earlington, KY; thanks Father Martin")
