St. Andrew's Society of Montreal
  • Learn more
    • The Team
    • Youth Committee
    • Partners
    • History >
      • History - The Founding Years >
        • History - Traditional Celebrations
        • HISTORY - CHARITABLE ENDEAVOURS
        • History - The First President
        • HISTORY - THE LEGENDS
      • Genealogical Research
      • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - introduction >
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Map
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Main Tour
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Extension Tour
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Old Montreal
      • The Keith Radley Hutchison Award
      • Scottish Diaspora Tapestry
      • Past Presidents
      • Ball History >
        • History of the St. Andrew's Ball
        • St Andrew’s Ball Guests of Honour
        • Recent Guests of Honour for the St Andrew’s Ball
        • St Andrew’s Ball – Archives
        • St. Andrew's Ball - Debutants, Flower Girls and Pages
      • Caledonian Society of Montreal
      • Minute Books and Membership
      • The Rest of our collection
      • The Scots in Montreal
    • The Journal
    • Wee Weekly News
    • History Corner articles
    • The Scottish Banner
    • Photos
    • Chair of Canadian-Scottish Studies
    • Montreal 1642 tartan >
      • History of the Montreal 1642 tartan
    • Mount Royal Cemetery
  • Membership
    • Membership application
    • Membership renewal
  • Events
    • Kilt Skate
    • Burns Supper
    • WhiskyFête
    • Curling for Dummies
    • St. Patrick's Parade
    • Quebec Thistle Awards
    • Tartan Picnic
    • Pop-up Pipers
    • Summer Barbecue
    • Montreal Highland Games
    • Golf Tournament
    • Fish and Chips Supper
    • Taste of Scotland
    • St. Andrew's Ball
    • Christmas Party
  • Outreach
    • Community assistance
    • Educational aid
    • Cultural grants
  • Store
  • Donate
    • Planned giving
  • Volunteer with us!
  • Contact us
    • Links
  • Apprendre
    • L'Équipe
    • Comité des jeunes
    • Partenaires
    • Histoire (en anglais seulement)
    • Le Journal
    • Wee Weekly News
    • Articles (en anglais seulement)
    • The Scottish Banner (en anglais seulement)
    • Photos
    • Chaire d'études canado-écossaises
    • Le Tartan de Montréal 1642 >
      • Histoire du Tartan de Montreal 1642
    • Cimetière Mont-Royal
  • Adhésion
    • Demande d'adhésion
    • Renouvellement de l'adhésion
  • Événements
    • Patinage en kilt
    • Souper Burns
    • WhiskyFête
    • Curling pour les nuls
    • Défilé de la Saint-Patrick
    • Prix Auld Alliance du Québec
    • Pique-nique en tartan
    • Pop-up Pipers
    • Barbecue d'été
    • Jeux écossais de Montréal
    • Tournoi de golf
    • Souper poisson-frites
    • Goût de l'Écosse
    • Bal de la Saint-André
    • Fête de Noël
  • Programmes d'aide
    • Assistance communautaire
    • Aide à l'éducation
    • Subventions culturelles
  • Boutique
  • Faire un don
    • Dons planifiés
  • Faire du bénévolat !
  • Nous contacter
    • Liens

History - The Legends of Saint Andrew


The Apostle Andrew, son of Jonas, the Galilean fisherman and brother of Simon Peter, travelled as a missionary through the whole of Asiatic and European Scythia finally arriving in Achaia. He was arrested at Patras on the Gulf of Corinth and, by order of the Roman Consul, crucified being bound with ropes to a cross decussate (diagonal cross or saltire). Early in the fourth century, his remains were carried to Byzantium and honourably interred by order of the Emperor Constantine. During the same century and following the instructions he had received in a vision, the monk Regulus (St. Rule) set sail from Patras with the relics of Saint Andrew. He and his companions were shipwrecked off the east coast of Scotland and in fulfilment of his vision, he built a shrine on the spot where they landed at Kinrymont, placing the relics therein. While there may be some controversy between the traditionalists and the historians regarding the century of this occurrence, the fact remains that pilgrims devoutly visited St. Andrew's Shrine throughout the centuries. During her lifetime in the 11th century, Scotland's saintly Queen Margaret greatly encouraged such pilgrimages and not only instituted a free-passage ferry across the Firth of Forth (North and South Queensferry) to aid the pilgrims but also provided dwellings near to the shrine for their shelter. The site of the shrine eventually became the royal burgh of St. Andrews, known for its magnificent cathedral, which was founded in the twelfth century but, due to many adversities, was not finally completed until 1318 when it was consecrated in the presence of Robert the Bruce, four years after the Battle of Bannockburn. Today, only ruins remain of what was once one of Scotland's finest cathedrals and the relics of the Apostle Andrew have long vanished but thanks to its University, the oldest in Scotland, and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, the town of St. Andrews still remains world-renowned.

With reference to a second legend, which relates to the winning of a battle by Pictish and Scottish warriors against Athelstane of Northumbria's army, the following inscription on a simple memorial stone located in the quiet parish churchyard of Athelstaneford in East Lothian, Scotland describes the details: "Tradition says that near this place in times remote Pictish and Scottish warriors about to defeat an army of Northumbrian saw against a blue sky a great white cross like St. Andrew's and made in its image a banner which became the flag of Scotland. "

It is related that on the eve of the battle, King Fergus of the Picts had a vision in which Saint Andrew told him to be of good courage and promised him a glorious victory. Thus, according to the legend, Saint Andrew became the patron saint of the Picts and later a united Scotland.

While doubt may be cast on the credence of these two legends, the fact remains that for centuries Saint Andrew has been acknowledged as the patron saint of Scotland and the distinctive blue banner with its white saltire is definitely recognised as Scotland's national standard which, in earlier times, the fighting Scots proudly carried into battle to the resounding cry of:
"SAINT ANDREW FOR SCOTLAND"
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The Founding Years
Traditional Celebrations
Charitable endeavours
The first president
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Nous sommes heureux de vous présenter Scottish Affairs Canada comme l'un de nos partenaires. L'Écosse et le Canada entretiennent une relation particulière depuis des siècles. Veuillez cliquer sur le logo «Scotland is Now» et découvrez certains des liens qui unissent nos deux pays.


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À propos de nous
Fondée en 1835, la Société St. Andrew’s de Montréal est une société de bienfaisance qui se consacre à l'aide de la communauté écossaise de Montréal, à l'éducation et à la préservation des arts et de la culture écossais. 
Nous contacter
1195, rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Montréal QC  H3A 1H9
​514-842-2030
info@standrews.qc.ca

Nous soutenir

Inscrivez-vous à notre liste de diffusion et recevez le «Wee Weekly News»—notre bulletin d'information hebdomadaire!
Inscrivez-vous à notre liste de diffusion !


​© La Sociéte St. Andrew's de Montréal. Tous droits réservés.
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​We are pleased to introduce ​​Scottish Affairs Canada as one of our partners. Scotland and Canada have enjoyed a special relationship for centuries. Please click on the Scotland is Now logo and find out about some of the connections that bind our two countries together.

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About us
Founded in 1835, the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal is a charitable society dedicated to the assistance of Montreal’s Scottish community, to education, and to the preservation of Scottish arts and culture. ​​
Contact us
1195 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal QC  H3A 1H9
514-842-2030
info@standrews.qc.ca

Support us

Join our mailing list and receive the Wee Weekly News—our weekly newsletter!
Join our email list!


​© St. Andrew's Society of Montreal. All rights reserved.
  • Learn more
    • The Team
    • Youth Committee
    • Partners
    • History >
      • History - The Founding Years >
        • History - Traditional Celebrations
        • HISTORY - CHARITABLE ENDEAVOURS
        • History - The First President
        • HISTORY - THE LEGENDS
      • Genealogical Research
      • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - introduction >
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Map
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Main Tour
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Extension Tour
        • A walking tour of Scottish Montreal - Old Montreal
      • The Keith Radley Hutchison Award
      • Scottish Diaspora Tapestry
      • Past Presidents
      • Ball History >
        • History of the St. Andrew's Ball
        • St Andrew’s Ball Guests of Honour
        • Recent Guests of Honour for the St Andrew’s Ball
        • St Andrew’s Ball – Archives
        • St. Andrew's Ball - Debutants, Flower Girls and Pages
      • Caledonian Society of Montreal
      • Minute Books and Membership
      • The Rest of our collection
      • The Scots in Montreal
    • The Journal
    • Wee Weekly News
    • History Corner articles
    • The Scottish Banner
    • Photos
    • Chair of Canadian-Scottish Studies
    • Montreal 1642 tartan >
      • History of the Montreal 1642 tartan
    • Mount Royal Cemetery
  • Membership
    • Membership application
    • Membership renewal
  • Events
    • Kilt Skate
    • Burns Supper
    • WhiskyFête
    • Curling for Dummies
    • St. Patrick's Parade
    • Quebec Thistle Awards
    • Tartan Picnic
    • Pop-up Pipers
    • Summer Barbecue
    • Montreal Highland Games
    • Golf Tournament
    • Fish and Chips Supper
    • Taste of Scotland
    • St. Andrew's Ball
    • Christmas Party
  • Outreach
    • Community assistance
    • Educational aid
    • Cultural grants
  • Store
  • Donate
    • Planned giving
  • Volunteer with us!
  • Contact us
    • Links
  • Apprendre
    • L'Équipe
    • Comité des jeunes
    • Partenaires
    • Histoire (en anglais seulement)
    • Le Journal
    • Wee Weekly News
    • Articles (en anglais seulement)
    • The Scottish Banner (en anglais seulement)
    • Photos
    • Chaire d'études canado-écossaises
    • Le Tartan de Montréal 1642 >
      • Histoire du Tartan de Montreal 1642
    • Cimetière Mont-Royal
  • Adhésion
    • Demande d'adhésion
    • Renouvellement de l'adhésion
  • Événements
    • Patinage en kilt
    • Souper Burns
    • WhiskyFête
    • Curling pour les nuls
    • Défilé de la Saint-Patrick
    • Prix Auld Alliance du Québec
    • Pique-nique en tartan
    • Pop-up Pipers
    • Barbecue d'été
    • Jeux écossais de Montréal
    • Tournoi de golf
    • Souper poisson-frites
    • Goût de l'Écosse
    • Bal de la Saint-André
    • Fête de Noël
  • Programmes d'aide
    • Assistance communautaire
    • Aide à l'éducation
    • Subventions culturelles
  • Boutique
  • Faire un don
    • Dons planifiés
  • Faire du bénévolat !
  • Nous contacter
    • Liens