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St Andrews was born at about
1887, and he had lost his sight when he was about 3 years old. Therefore
St Andrews became a monk at about 1909, at nearly 22 years old. Having
a loss of sight was not a excuse or cause for special treatment, on the
contrary he was in charge of the hardest tasks to be done at the monastery.
He had to raise water from the monastery well to fill a very large basin
everyday, and collect donations for the monastery construction work. After
a long time people came to understand how great his relationship with God
was, as they saw scorpions sting him but causing no harm, they discovered
a serpent sleeping on his shoulder as if they were friends. At one time
it was percived a cat used to sleep in his garb, and guide him through
the monastery so he may not stumble, when the head of the monastery saw
this he kissed the saint and said "Our father, this is not a cat,
this is an angel". St Andrews was always simple, humble, meek and
never complained about anything, he also had the gift of knowing the thoughts
of others, and predicting when things would occur. At one time life in
the monastery was almost impossible and the monks of the monastery deserted
it, and asked the saint to come with them but he refused, and stayed alone
for 4 months living on dry bread, and salty water, he also used to ring
the monastery bell because the monastery was surrounded by bedouins and
if they knew the monastery was uninhabited they would have surely taken
over. When Archpriest Isaac Maksimos returned he asked the saint why he
didn't leave the monastery with the others?, but the saint replied "It
would have been a disgrace, and a big shame, my father, if I had left my
monastery, and gone away". Also at times people have seen St. Andrews
laughing, and smiling as they asked him why?, he would answer them saying
that the angels were comforting him. And of course St. Andrews is still
performing miracles even after his departure.
May his prayers be with us all, and glory be to God forever. Amen.
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Saints
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