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Heavenly Signs: King Óengus, Saint Andrew, and Scotland’s flag

Clouds from Scottish flag Igor Salov - Shutterstock
Clouds from Scottish flag Igor Salov - Shutterstock

Christian biblical tradition claims Saint Andrew was among the earliest disciples of Jesus of Nazareth. Born in the town of Bethsaida, Andrew was originally a fisherman, working alongside his brother Simon Peter. The Gospel of John recounts that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. Upon meeting Jesus of Nazareth, Andrew is said to have immediately recognized him as the Messiah, and he was the one who introduced his brother Peter to Jesus, thus setting in motion their pivotal roles in the early Christian church.

Tradition holds that after Christ’s resurrection and ascension, Andrew traveled extensively to preach the gospel. His missionary journeys are said to have taken him to Greece, Asia Minor, and possibly even Scythia (modern-day Ukraine and southern Russia), earning him the title of Protoclete, or “the First Called,” in Orthodox Christianity.

The most well-known part of Saint Andrew’s story is his crucifixion. According to tradition, Andrew was martyred in the Greek city of Patras. Refusing to worship other gods, he was sentenced to be crucified, but he requested not to be nailed to a traditional cross, as he deemed himself unworthy of dying in the same manner as Christ –a gesture that is repeated all throughout the Roman Martyrology, and that has also been attributed to Andrew’s brother, Peter. Instead, he was tied to an X-shaped cross. This X-shaped cross became known as the crux decussata, the Saltire, or Saint Andrew’s cross –the lasting symbol of his martyrdom.

His death, according to some accounts, took place around 60 CE, marking the beginning of his legacy across Christendom. Saint Andrew became the patron saint of various countries, including Scotland. There, the Saltire is deemed a divine sign that helped shape Scottish history.

The Relics of St. Andrew: A Scottish Pilgrimage

Crosses and flags

Crosses have long been potent symbols in national flags, representing faith, victory, and identity. Among the most famous styles are the Scandinavian cross, found in the flags of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, and the saltire, prominently displayed on the Scottish flag. These crosses are meant to represent Christian heritage, national unity, and deep-rooted traditions, each with its own story to tell.

Athelstaneford, site of the battle and of King Oengus' prodigious vision of the St. Andrew's Cross.
Athelstaneford, site of the battle and of King Oengus’ prodigious vision of the St. Andrew’s Cross / Shutterstock

The Scottish flag, the Saltire, features a white diagonal cross on a blue background –the cross of Saint Andrew, the country’s patron saint. But how did this Galilean fisherman become so important to Scotland? Legend connects this directly to a moment of divine vision –much like the experience of the Roman Emperor Constantine.

In 832 AD, during a fierce battle between the Picts and the Angles, King Óengus II (the Picts’ leader) prayed for victory, invoking Saint Andrew’s intercession. On the morning of the battle, a white saltire appeared in the sky, resembling the cross upon which Saint Andrew was crucified. Believing this to be a sign of divine favor, Óengus led his forces to victory.

This event bears striking similarities to Constantine’s vision of the Chi Rho, an early Christian symbol formed from the first two Greek letters for “Christ,” Chi (X) and Rho (P). Tradition claims that in 312 CE, Constantine saw the Chi Rho in the sky before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, accompanied by the words, “In this sign, you shall conquer.” This vision convinced Constantine that divine intervention was at hand, leading to his triumph and the eventual Christianization of the Roman Empire.

Much like Constantine’s experience, King Óengus’s vision transformed the spiritual and political landscape of Scotland. Saint Andrew was declared the patron saint of the country, and his cross became the country’s enduring symbol. The Saltire, much like Constantine’s Chi Rho, signifies not only a victory in battle but also the deep intertwining of faith and nationhood. Today, the flag stands as a reminder of Scotland’s Christian roots and its patron saint’s legacy, a symbol of divine providence and national unity, carried forward through centuries.

St Margaret’s Way on The Scottish Way of St Andrews

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