(St.) ANDREW SALOS
(b.? - d. 936AD) also known as Andrew of Constantinople or 'Andrew
the Fool' he was a Slav by birth and was a slave of Theognostus, who
was serving as a bodyguard in Constantinople. Upon reading St. Paul's
exhortation it would better to be considered a 'fool' for Christ
rather than wise according to the sinful world's standards, he
dedicated his life to become a fool for Christ in an act of penance,
literally acting as though he were insane and humbly accepting all
the ridicule and rejection this would bring. According to some
sources, a heavenly revelation showed him that this unique life of
penance was God's will.
It is
related Andrew had a vision of Our Lady in the Blachernae church of
Constantinople, while the city was surrounded by enemy troops, some
sources say by Muslim Arabs. Andrew and his disciple Epiphanus
testified that they saw the Holy Virgin surrounded by many angels and
Saints, praying and extending her motherly protection over the
faithful. After this vision, Constantinople was saved when its
attackers retreated. That vision and the preservation of
Constantinople from destruction that was attributed to it inspired
the creation of one of the most famous Eastern Orthodox holidays: the
feast of the Protection of the Theotokos.
Andrew died
in 936. He is honoured as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox church. His
memory is commemorated by the Eastern Orthodox on October 15 (Oct. 2
old calendar). The earliest manuscript of his Greek hagiography is a
quire in Munich in a 10th-century uncial script.
In a record
of his Life written by an individual known as 'Nicephorus in
Constantinople' in the 10th century there is an intriguing section in
dialogue form, which details a conversation between Andrew and his
disciple Epiphinus who asks him when he believes the world will end
and what will happen in the 'birthbangs'.
This
apocalyptic part of the text contains a Great Monarch prophecy made
by Andrew, and considering he died before the Great Schism occurred
between the Eastern Orthodox and the western Roman Catholic Church in
1054 AD, he lived in a time of union with the Church, therefore his
prophecy has often been included among Roman Catholic texts on end
time prophecies.
::::::::::::::::
“Because
in the last days God the Lord will raise a king from poverty and he
will reign in justice; he will become agreeable to everyone through
charity, and will abolish every war, and he will take care that the
poor become rich. And there will be peace in the way as it was in
Noah's days, because none will ever make war. In those days men will
be very rich, in peace and in deep calmness eating and drinking,
getting married and making marriages, living in much freedom,
unmindfully relying on earthly things. And owing to the lack of war
on earth, they will cut up their swords and change them into scythes
and agricultural tools….”
“And after
that he will turn toward the east and will humble the sons of Agar,
(i.e. Hagar, the Arabs descended from Abraham's first wife, Hagar.
Islam exited at this point, and it is to Islam Andrew refers to
here.) Because the Lord will be angry with them because of their
blasphemy blaspheming our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the sodomy they
practise. And many of them, receiving the holy baptism, will become
agreeable and will be honoured by that devout king; as to the rest of
them, the king will destroy and burn and put them to death…”
“In those
times the world will be restored; also Illyricon of the kingdom of
the Romans (Greeks); and Egypt will bring her treaties. And he will
lay his right hand on the nations all around. And he will tame the
blond nations; and will defeat those who hate him. For thirty and two
years will he govern the kingdom. He will not impose taxes for 12
years, and will not accept presents (bribes). And he will raise the
shattered altars and will have the holy churches rebuilt. There will
not be law suits in those days, and neither wrongdoers or wronged
people. Because all the earth shall shrink before his face; and he
will, through fear, make the sons of men be prudent. And he will
exterminate those magnates who will transgress the law …”
“In those
times God will reveal to the King where all the hidden gold and
treasures are located. And he will scatter it 'by the shovel'
throughout all his country. The very rich noblemen will live like
kings and the poor will live like noblemen. The king will accomplish
great feats. He will set out with great zeal to drive away the Jews.
Not one Israelite will remain with the City. (I.e. It will be a
localised expulsion, apparently, Jews who will not convert.)
Amusements with lyres, guitars and obscene songs will not be heard.
Nothing lewd and shameful will happen because he will hate and
utterly destroy 'out of the City of the Lord all them that work
iniquity' (Ps. 100:8)
“And after
this kingdom, the misfortunes will start. The son of perdition, the
Chiliarch Aran (i.e Antichrist) will come to this City and he will
reign for three years and six months.”
Back to the Prophecy Timeline, click here.
Back to the Prophecy Timeline, click here.
