Andrew the Scot

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Saint Andrew the Scot
Born	800s
Died	c. 877, Fiesole, Italy
Venerated in	Roman Catholicism
Major shrine	Saint Martin, Fiesole, Italy
Feast	22 August
Attributes	deacon curing a paralytic girl; sometimes shown appearing to a sleeping priest; Irish wolfhound
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Saint Andrew the Scot (also Andrew of Tuscany, Andrew of Fiesole) was most likely born at the beginning of the 9th century, and died around 877. St. Andrew and his sister, St. Bridget the Younger, were born in Ireland of noble parents ('Scot' was used here in its archaic meaning, as a synonym for 'Gael', rather than the modern meaning of someone from Scotland). There they studied under Saint Donatus of Fiesole, an Irish scholar. When Donatus decided to make a long pilgrimage to the holy places of Italy, Andrew accompanied him.

Donatus and Andrew arrived at Fiesole when the people were assembled to elect a new bishop. A heavenly voice indicated Donatus as most worthy of the dignity. After being consecrated to that office, he made Andrew his archdeacon. During the forty-seven years of his episcopate, Andrew served Donatus faithfully, and was encouraged to restore the church of San Martino di Mensola and to found a monastery there. Andrew is commended for his austerity of life and boundless charity to the poor.

He died shortly after his master, St. Donatus. His sister, St. Bridget, was allegedly conducted from Ireland by an angel to assist at his deathbed.

St. Andrew's feast day is commemorated on 22 August.