St. Andrew Coloring Page
This St. Andrew coloring page shows the apostle with his long beard, standing beside his X-shaped cross and holding a fishing net with two fish, with a little boat on the Sea of Galilee behind him. The PDF is free to print. Andrew was the first apostle to follow Jesus.
The story of St. Andrew
Long ago, in a fishing town called Bethsaida by the Sea of Galilee, lived two brothers, Andrew and Simon. They were fishermen. Andrew loved God and wanted to learn more about him, so he became a follower of John the Baptist.
One day John saw Jesus walking by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" Andrew wanted to know Jesus, so he followed him. Jesus turned and asked, "What are you looking for?" Andrew spent the whole day with Jesus. Then he ran to find his brother. "We have found the Messiah!" he said, and he brought Simon to meet Jesus. Simon became St. Peter. Because Andrew was the first apostle to follow Jesus, Christians in the East call him the "First-Called."
Andrew was good at bringing people to Jesus. Once, when a huge crowd was hungry, Andrew found a boy with five loaves of bread and two fish and brought him to Jesus. Jesus blessed the food, and it fed thousands of people!
After Jesus rose from the dead and went back to heaven, Andrew traveled far away to tell people about him, to the lands around the Black Sea and to Greece. Tradition says he gave his life for Jesus in Greece on a cross shaped like an X.
Christians in Scotland, Greece, Russia and Ukraine all love St. Andrew. We celebrate his feast on November 30, right around the start of Advent.
What to color
- The X-shaped cross: brown wood. It is called St. Andrew's cross, and the flag of Scotland is a white X on blue.
- His cloak: green, or red, as Eastern icons often show him.
- His long beard and hair: gray or white.
- The fishing net and fish: a tan net and silver fish, because Andrew was a fisherman.
- The loaves and fish: golden brown bread and two fish, for the boy he brought to Jesus.
- The boat and lake: brown wood on blue water.
A prayer to pray together
Many families begin a Christmas prayer on St. Andrew's feast and say it every day until Christmas. It begins:
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.
You can read all of it on our St. Andrew Christmas novena page. Younger children can simply say: St. Andrew, pray for us, and help us bring our friends to Jesus.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on November 30 and begin the St. Andrew Christmas prayer together.
- Make a paper flag of Scotland: a white X on a blue background.
- Have a fish and bread lunch and read the story of the loaves and fish (John 6:1-14).
- Talk about it: Andrew brought his brother to Jesus. Who could we invite to church or tell about Jesus?
Read the full story: St. Andrew the Apostle in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. Andrew?
Eastern icons often show Andrew in green, or in red. Make his X-shaped cross brown wood, his net tan, the fish silver and the lake blue. Scottish children might color a blue background with a white X, like the flag of Scotland.
Why does St. Andrew have an X-shaped cross?
An old tradition says Andrew gave his life for Jesus in Greece on a cross shaped like an X. That shape is now called St. Andrew's cross, and it is on the flag of Scotland.
Why is St. Andrew called the First-Called?
In the Gospel of John, Andrew is the first of the twelve apostles to follow Jesus. Then he ran to get his brother Simon Peter and brought him to Jesus too.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.