Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ

Andrew came from Scythia and lived in the days of Emperor Leo VI the Wise. Sold as a slave in childhood to a devout official, who loved him as a son and saw to his education, his zeal for the Lives of the martyrs of the faith led him to play the 'fool,' enduring mockery and humiliation.

He shared all he had with the poor, remaining hungry and unclothed himself, and saw Christ in the face of every suffering person. During an all-night vigil at Blachernae he saw the Theotokos praying in the heavens, covering the people with her veil—a vision that founded the feast of the Protection of the Theotokos.