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What is the name of the naval flag of the Russian Federation. What is the history of the appearance of the St. Andrew's flag

The USSR was formed in 1922. All symbols of power of the Russian Empire had been abolished for five years by that time. The new state needed to approve its symbols, including the flag of the USSR Navy. This took time, since the fighting did not stop for a long time.

During the history of the Soviet state, three sketches of the Navy were approved. Each of them had its own characteristics. The latter option lasted forty-two years.

Purpose

In the Ship's Regulations, the flag of the USSR Navy was designated as the Battle Banner. It was a symbol of military honor, glory, and valor. His task was to remind the crew members of their duty, which was to defend the Soviet Motherland. The flag also served as a reminder of heroic traditions.

Description of the 1923 flag

The flag of the USSR Navy first appeared in 1923. Its sketch was developed by captain of the first rank Ordynsky N.I. He took the banner of the Japanese Navy as a basis.

Description:

rectangular shape in a ratio of three to two;
red canvas;
in the center of the canvas there is a white circle equal to half the width of the canvas, it symbolized the sun;
eight white stripes radiate from the circle to the middle of the four sides and four corners;
in the center of the circle there is a five-pointed star, its color is red, one of its ends is facing upward, its diameter is equal to five-sixths of the diameter of the circle;
the star contains a white hammer and sickle.

In the same year, the flag was raised on military ships in honor of the fifth anniversary of the October Revolution. It was approved only in 1924.

Archival photographs have been preserved showing the destroyers Kalinin and Voikov with flags raised on board, designed by N.I. Ordynsky.

Description of the 1935 flag

The 1923 banner existed for twelve years. Thoughts about replacing him began to arise among the country's leadership back in 1932. At this time, the Naval Forces of the Far East were created. Three years later, the Pacific Fleet was created from them.

The existing Naval Ensign strongly resembled the symbol of an island state, which could cause problems. Therefore, in 1935, a new flag of the USSR Navy was approved, which lasted fifteen years.

Description:

white canvas;
a blue stripe located along the bottom of the panel;
the five-pointed star is painted red, it is placed in the middle of the left half of the canvas, one end is directed upward, the diameter of the figure is equal to two-thirds of the width of the entire banner;
a red hammer and sickle are crossed with each other, placed in the center of the right half of the canvas, the largest diameter of the symbol is equal to two-thirds of the width of the white part of the cloth.

The ratio of white to blue is five to one. The dimensions of the canvas are three to two.

Description of the 1950 flag

By 1950, the flag of the USSR Navy (photo below) was slightly modified. The resolution on this was not recorded in the Code of Laws of the Union. The appearance was approved only in 1964.

Description:

white canvas with a blue stripe, which is located along the bottom;
in the left half of the white canvas there is a red five-pointed star, one of its ends is directed upward;
on the right side of the white canvas there is a red sickle and hammer, they are crossed with each other, and the lower extreme points of their handles and the lower extreme corners of the star are at the same level.

The dimensions of the flag of the USSR Navy for 1950 differ significantly from the previous version. The ratio of width to length became one to one and a half. The size of the five-pointed star has changed; it is visually equal to the crossed hammer and sickle. The width of the blue part became equal to one sixth of the entire width of the flag.

This is exactly how the banner remained until 1992, when it was replaced by the modern symbol of the Russian Navy.

Description of the Guards version

Explanation of symbols:

star - sign of the Red Army;
the crossed hammer and sickle - one of the main emblems of the Soviet state, meant an alliance between peasants and workers;
the blue stripe is a symbol of the sea.

Recently, original flags have become popular among the population. Demand creates supply, which is why online stores have appeared that manufacture and sell flags, as well as other paraphernalia of the USSR.

On December 1 (11), 1699, Tsar Peter I Alekseevich established the St. Andrew's flag as the official flag of the Russian Navy. The main ship banner of the Russian Navy is a white, rectangular panel, crossed diagonally from corner to corner by two blue stripes that form an oblique cross. The tsar explained his choice by the fact that it was from Apostle Andrew the First-Called that Rus' first received holy baptism, and he became its heavenly patron, and thus Peter wanted to perpetuate the name of the saint.

The symbolism of St. Andrew's flag has deep roots. One of the disciples of Jesus Christ was Andrew - the brother of the Apostle Peter (Cephas, former Simon), the patron saint of Tsar Peter I. According to the Gospel, both brothers fished on Lake Galilee, that is, they were directly related to the sea. Andrew was the first to be called by Jesus Christ as a disciple and therefore was called the First Called. According to some sources, Andrei was sent for missionary work to Scythia (Northern Black Sea region). A number of Russian sources report on the apostle’s journey from Crimea to Rome via Ladoga. It is said that Andrei, having made a stop on the hills near the Dnieper, where Kyiv would be founded, told his disciples that the grace of God would shine here and a great city would be founded. He climbed the hills, blessed them and planted the cross. Then he visited the northern lands of Rus', marveling at the custom of the Slavs, who, while washing in the baths, beat themselves with “young twigs” and doused themselves with kvass and ice water. Some sources report the further journey of the Apostle Andrew to the north, where he erected a cross near the present village of Gruzino on the banks of the Volkhov, to Lake Ladoga and visiting the island of Valaam. At the same time, it should be noted that many authors, including Orthodox church historians, question the existence of this journey.

One thing is certain, the Apostle Andrew became famous as a tireless traveler and preacher of Christianity. The missionary's activities were closely connected with the sea. The “Golden Legend” (a collection of Christian legends and lives of saints, written in the 13th century) reports the salvation and even resurrection of 40 travelers who were heading by sea to the apostle, but were destroyed by a storm (another version reports the calming of the sea with prayer). This can explain the veneration of St. Andrew the First-Called as the patron saint of sailors. His life ended with martyrdom - crucifixion on an oblique cross (which received the name of the apostle).

The veneration of the Apostle Andrew in the Russian state and the special attitude of Tsar Peter Alekseevich towards him was expressed in the fact that in 1698 the first Russian order was established - the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. The main part of the order was the image of the Apostle Andrew, crucified on an oblique cross. Until 1917, the Order of St. Andrew on a blue ribbon remained the main and most revered award in the Russian Empire (since 1998, the highest award of the Russian Federation). It should also be noted that the symbolism of the St. Andrew’s flag came from Peter’s father, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who established a special flag for the ship “Eagle” built under him - a white-blue-red panel with a double-headed scarlet eagle.

Having become tsar, Pyotr Alekseevich paid great attention to the development of designs for the flag of the Russian fleet. So, in 1692, two sketches were created. One - with three horizontal stripes and the signature: “white”, “blue”, and “red”. The second drawing shows the same colors with a St. Andrew’s cross “superimposed” on them. In 1693 and 1695, the flag of the second project was listed in a number of European atlases as the “flag of Muscovy.” It must be said that in search of the final version of the Russian naval flag, the tsar went through about 30 projects over two decades. In August 1693, Tsar Peter raised the St. Peter" flag of three horizontal stripes (white, blue and red) with a golden eagle in the center. From this moment on, one can trace the development of the naval flag of the Russian state. Unfortunately, there is no information about the banners under which the boats of Russian soldiers sailed in the first millennium AD, or the ships of Novgorod merchants and ushkuiniks. Although it can be assumed that Russian battle banners have been red since ancient times.

In 1696, during the second siege of the Turkish fortress of Azov, Russian ships carried at the stern a flag with a blue straight cross and quarters of white and red colors. However, the very next year, Tsar Peter established a new flag of the navy of three horizontal stripes - white, blue and red, essentially returning to the 1693 version. Under this flag, the ship “Fortress” went to Constantinople in 1699 with the first official diplomatic mission of the Russian navy. At the same time, the Russian sovereign, who had just returned from a trip to Western Europe, continued his search for a design of the Russian naval flag. In the autumn of 1699, for the first time, the “St. Andrew’s” oblique blue cross appears on a white-blue-red cloth - the sign of the patron saint of Rus', Apostle Andrew the First-Called. It was also placed by the king in the white head of the tricolor pennant, known since 1697, which existed under the name “ordinary” until 1870.

In 1700, Tsar Peter examined engravings and drawings of the 58-gun ship Goto Predestination (God's Foresight). In the engravings of Adrian Schonebeck and in the watercolors of Bergman, the warship is depicted with six different flags! One of the views depicts a flag, in the panel of which nine horizontal stripes of white, blue and red colors are successively located; on the other there is a white-blue-red flag with three horizontal stripes (1697 version); on the third there is a flag of seven stripes, on a wide white central stripe of which there is a black St. Andrew's cross, above this stripe there are narrow white, blue and red stripes, and below it there are narrow blue, white and red stripes. However, the tsar believes that the flag of 1697 is outdated, and the nine-stripe panel is difficult to read and, moreover, is very similar to the Dutch flag of the rear admiral. The Tsar is satisfied with the flags in the drawings: white, blue and red with St. Andrew's blue cross in the upper quarter of the flag near the flagpole. This system was similar to that adopted in the English fleet. At the same time, flags of the galley fleet were established, which differed from ship flags by the presence of braids (the ends of the flag in the form of right triangles). In addition, white, blue and red pennants began to be raised on the masts of ships, with a blue St. Andrew's cross placed in the white head. Blue and red flags and pennants, which were sometimes canceled and reintroduced, generally existed until 1865. The white flag received a new design already in 1710 - the blue St. Andrew's cross was moved to the center of the flag and seemed to hang in it, without touching the ends of the flag. The St. Andrew's flag adopted its familiar image in 1712: a white flag with a blue St. Andrew's cross. In this form, this flag existed in the Russian Navy until November 1917.

Since 1720, a special flag, which was previously used as a flag for sea fortresses and called the “Keiser flag,” began to be raised on the bowsprit of ships of the Russian fleet. The red banner was crossed not only by an oblique blue cross, but by a straight white cross. It is believed that it appeared in 1701. Until 1720, Russian ships carried a smaller copy of the stern flag as a huys. The word “guys” has an interesting meaning: it comes from the Dutch “guys”, meaning beggar. This is the name given to the inhabitants of the Netherlands who rebelled against Spanish rule in the 16th century. The largest group of Gueuze fought at sea ("Sea Gueuze") and began to use this flag for the first time.

Guys, flag of sea fortresses.

The primacy of the white flag, with the blue St. Andrew's Cross, was finally enshrined in the Charter of 1797: “If ships are not assigned anywhere, they fly white flags.” At the same time, the ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet from its founding until 1918 sailed only under white St. Andrew's flags. Colored - blue and red flags were abolished during the reigns of Anna Ioannovna and Catherine the Great. In the roofs (the upper quarter of the flag near the pole) of the blue and red flags from 1797 to 1801 (during the reign of Pavel Petrovich) it was not the St. Andrew’s flag that was placed, but the guy, which for Emperor Paul I, who from childhood held the rank of admiral general, had special meaning as a personal sign. It should be noted that it was Emperor Pavel Petrovich who turned old flags and banners from items of clothing into military relics. In addition, under Emperor Paul, some Russian ships for some time raised a red flag with a white cross of St. John. This flag was created as a stern sign of the Maltese squadrons created by the newly created head of the Order of Malta. On December 16, 1798, Paul I was elected Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and planned to create a fleet based in Malta to ensure the interests of the Russian Empire in the Mediterranean Sea and southern Europe. The flag was abolished after the death of Pavel Petrovich.

In the 19th century, several more new stern flags appeared in the Russian Empire. So, back in 1797, the ships of the Naval Cadet Corps received a special stern flag, where the coat of arms of the educational institution was placed in the center of the St. Andrew's flag in a red oval. And on the mainmast of the ships of this educational institution they began to raise “ordinary” pennants with three-color braids. Since 1827, ships of training naval crews received the right to raise a special flag, which had an image of a cannon and an anchor (they were also placed in a red oval). The Russian Imperial Navy received its stern flags and hydrographic vessels. In 1828, a flag “for navigation” was established; on the St. Andrew’s flag in the center there was a drawing of a black compass reel with a golden anchor pointing to the north. True, already in 1837 this flag was replaced by the flag of the Hydrograph General established in 1829. It had the same black compass reel, but in a small blue cover. In addition, in 1815-1833. there was also a stern flag for the ships of the Vistula military flotilla (Flag of the military ships of the Kingdom of Poland). It was St. Andrew's flag with a small red roof, in which a white Polish eagle was placed. This flag was canceled after the defeat of the Polish uprising of 1830-1831.

Flag of the Hydrographer General of the General Staff. Flag of ships intended for navigation.

Until 1797, auxiliary vessels of the navy of the Russian Empire carried a tricolor flag at the stern and a jack on the bowsprit. From 1794 to 1804, auxiliary vessels were distinguished by a military pennant. And since May 1804 they received a special flag with a white or blue cloth, with a roof of national colors (white-blue-red) and crossed anchors under it. In addition, the armed transport simultaneously carried a military pennant. All of these flags were abolished in 1865.

St. George's pennant is a three-color pennant with the St. Andrew's flag at the head, on the center of the cross of which there is a red shield with the image of the patron saint of the military, St. George the Victorious, was established in 1819. It began to distinguish the guards crew, which earned this honor in the battle of the city of Kulm in 1813. Other differences that distinguished senior officials were the St. George admiral's flag (it had the panel of the St. Andrew's flag, but with the red shield of St. George the Victorious), the St. George's braid pennant and the rear admiral's boat flag. In addition, during the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829. In battles with the Turks, the 74-gun battleship Azov (hero of the Battle of Navarino) and the 18-gun brig Mercury (victory over two Turkish battleships) especially distinguished themselves; they were marked with the Admiral's St. George flags, which were raised as stern ones. In the entire subsequent history of the Russian Empire, not a single warship of the Russian fleet has received such an award.

With the development of the country, changes also occurred in the flags of the navy. In 1865, due to unnecessary use, blue and red flags and pennants were abolished. All, except St. Andrew's, stern flags were also cancelled. In 1870, boat flags became topmast flags of admirals, and the “ordinary” pennant under which ships that were not assigned to any unit sailed was eliminated. The St. George pennant received white braids instead of tricolor ones. In the same year, the stern flag of the auxiliary ships of the Russian Navy became a blue flag, which had an image of the St. Andrew's flag in the roof. In addition, as the armed forces develop, flags of ships of sea fortresses, new flags of officials, ships of individual units, ships of a separate Border Guard Corps, and flags of naval aviation appear.

The 1917 revolution brought new symbols. Red banners began to be raised next to St. Andrew's flags. Since the spring of 1918, the raising of the St. Andrew's flag on ships of Soviet Russia was stopped. At the end of 1924, St. Andrew's flags were also lowered on the ships of the White fleet in Bizerte (the ships were laid down to the French, who would soon “put them on pins and needles”). The Guys and the fortress flag, with some changes - in the central part of the flag in a white circle there was a red star with a hammer and sickle in the middle, existed until 1932. In addition, during the Second World War, the symbolism of the St. Andrew's flag was used by the collaborationist units of General Vlasov.

On January 17, 1992, the Russian government adopted a resolution that returned the St. Andrew's flag to the status of the Russian Naval flag. As a result, the pre-revolutionary St. Andrew's flag and jack were restored to the Russian Navy and are still in use today.

Russian Armed Forces– our pride, strength and confidence in the present and future of the country. Airborne Forces, Air Force, Navy, missile, space, border troops, navy and many others - they all have their own military symbols, their own flags.
War flag- a symbol of patriotism and love for the Fatherland, a sign of courage and perseverance of the Defenders of the Fatherland.

Navy Flags

Naval ensign- a sign that a warship (vessel) belongs to the armed forces of a given state. The stern naval flag hoisted on a ship is its Banner, serving as a symbol of military honor, valor and glory, a reminder to every serviceman of the ship of his sacred duty to faithfully serve the Motherland.

Navy flags appeared in the Ancient world and were finally established in the 16th–18th centuries.

In Russia at the beginning of the 18th century. a military naval flag was introduced ( Navy flag) with an oblique blue St. Andrew's cross.

Navy flags and naval flags are in stock, otherwise they are produced within 3-5 business days.

Buy a Navy flag in St. Petersburg or have it made to order according to your sketch, write or call our office.
We will make the “Sputnik” Marine Corps flag or the Northern Fleet Marine Corps flag to order.

Flag of the Russian Air Force

Air Force flag approved in 1924 by the Red Army as the airfield flag of aviation detachments and formations.
On May 15, 1967 it became the official flag of the USSR Air Force.
On May 26, 2004, a new flag of the Russian Air Force was approved after the merger of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces.
The flag of the VKS (Russian Aerospace Forces) was approved in 2015 as a result of the merger of the Air Force and the Aerospace Defense Forces.

Air Force flag in St. Petersburg in stock and to order. Air Force flag wholesale in a short time.

Flag of the Russian Airborne Forces

The Airborne Forces emblem is the basis for the development of landing flags. The drawing of the emblem of the Airborne Forces - in the form of a parachute surrounded by two aircraft - is a symbol of all paratroopers. This is the work of Zinaida Ivanovna Bocharova.

Flag of the airborne troops divided into two unequal parts. The upper 2/3 of the panel is occupied by a large blue stripe, symbolizing the sky. The lower, 1/3 part of the flag is green, symbolizing the pure land. On the blue stripe there is an image of an open parachute and two planes - the personification of paratroopers.

· Flag of the USSR Airborne Forces since 1955.
· The official flag of the Russian Airborne Forces since June 14, 2004.
· Flag of paratroopers with the motto: “Nobody but us!” since 2005 (sketch of Guards Lt. Airborne Forces Ganina E.V.)

Flag of the Border Troops

In 1918, the Border Troops were founded to guard and protect water and land borders.
In 1999, by order of the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation, the following flags were installed: Flag of the Federal Border Guard Service of Russia; Flag of the Russian Border Troops; Flag of the Russian Maritime Guard; Aviation flag of the FPS of Russia.

Border Troops Flags

Flag of the Ministry of Emergency Situations

“The flag of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergency Situations and Disaster Relief” is a rectangular panel of the colors of the State Flag of the Russian Federation. The width of the flag is 2/3 of its length.
At the top of the flag there is a blue square with a side equal to two stripes of the State Flag of the Russian Federation. In the center of the square there is a heraldic sign - the emblem of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the form of a vertically elongated white star with eight rays, in the center of which, in an orange circle, there is an equilateral blue triangle with a base below.

We print flags to order:

. small flags of the Ministry of Emergency Situations;
. Ministry of Emergency Situations flags on a stick;
. flag of the Ministry of Emergency Situations on a pole;

Military flags

Size of flags BC	Number of aircraft flags
Size of flags BC	≥1 piece	≥10 pcs.	≥50 pcs.	≥100 pcs.	≥300 pcs.	≥1000 pcs.
*flag BC 47** cm flag + stand with Velcro	60	25	20	20	20	18
*flag BC 69** cm flag + suction cup with tube	70	40	33	30	30	28
*flag BC 1218** cm	50	40	33	29	25	20
*flags BC 1522** cm flags are dressed and attached to a tube	50	50	42	32	27	20

War flags

Size of aircraft flags	Number of aircraft flags
Size of aircraft flags	≥1 piece	≥3 pcs.	≥5 pcs.	≥10 pcs.	≥50 pcs.
*flag BC 4060** cm	350	330	300	270	165
*flags BC 70105** cm	500	450	400	380	350
*flags BC 90135** cm	850	800	700	680	570

Need a wall bracket for a flag, please follow the link: .
You can choose a pole for the flag of the Armed Forces here:.

Winter jacket for the ground forces, navy and air force reliably protects against wind and snow. The insulation retains heat well, weighs little, does not deform, and does not absorb moisture. The combination of membrane fabric and insulation provides protection from severe frosts. CHARACTERISTICS Cold protection Regular cut For military operations Hand wash only MATERIALS Rip-stop Membrane Fibersoft insulation

The sailor collar is part of the ceremonial uniform of enlisted personnel of the Navy and is worn with a flannel jacket. The uniform sailor collar also has the slang name Guys (guys - the bow flag of a ship). It is made of dark blue cotton fabric, with three white stripes along the edges. Blue lining At the ends of the collar there is one loop, in the middle of the neckline on the shirt there are two buttons for fastening the collar

Casual suit for military personnel of the Russian Defense Ministry. Men's jacket: fastened at the waist with a zipper, with long sleeves, without lining. Turn-down collar with a stand-up collar and fastening of the corners with buttons. The pockets are fastened with contact tape. Below there are welt pockets “frame”, fastened with a zipper. The internal pocket for documents is fastened with a button. Trousers with a stitched belt fastened with a button. Color: Blue, green, black. Size: 88-132 Size: 84-100 Height: 158-200 Fabric: Rip-stop Fittings: Reinforced Color: blue, green, black. Material: rip-stop.

The MPA-35 suit is designed for comfortable work of Ministry of Defense employees in hot weather. Consists of trousers and a jacket with long sleeves. The sleeves have reinforced pads in the elbow area. The bottom of the jacket is adjustable in volume. CHARACTERISTICS For hot weather Regular cut For work in the headquarters MATERIALS Gabardine (100% polye)

The staff suit consists of trousers and a shirt with short sleeves, made of lightweight fabric that does not wrinkle, does not fade or lose its shape even after numerous washes.

Officer's dress cap of the Russian Navy with a white top, black band and white edging. The cap is equipped with a cockade and a metallized filigree cord. The height of the crown is from 8 to 10 cm. The cap is produced within 3-5 working days.

An order of 1921 approved a cap for sailors of the Navy of the Navy of the Russian Federation, abbreviated as the Russian Navy, the name of the Russian Navy. It is the successor to the USSR Navy and the Russian Empire Navy. License plate code... View all products belonging to the Navy Department of the Soviet (Russian) Fleet. Since then, the cap has remained virtually unchanged. Initially, the name of the ship or naval crew where the sailor served was stamped on the cap's ribbon. In Soviet times (1949), in order to maintain secrecy, the names of ships were replaced with the names of fleets (an exception was made only for the cruiser Aurora and the names of naval schools). Then only the inscription “Navy” was left altogether. Currently, the tradition of indicating the name of the ship on the ribbon is returning.

Previously produced only in the USSR Double knitting ensures the thickness of the product Material: 100% Cotton

St. Andrew's flag

“God and St. Andrew’s flag are with us!” - with these words in the fleet of the Russian Empire, ship commanders addressed their crews before the battle.

St. Andrew's flag is the main ship's stern flag of the Russian fleet. It is a white panel crossed diagonally by two blue stripes, which form an inclined cross, called St. Andrew's. This cross gave the name to the flag.

St. Andrew's cross- an oblique cross symbolizing the crucifixion of St. Andrew the First-Called. It is a common symbol and is used on the flags and symbols of several countries and territories.

Who was Andrew the First-Called, whose name is so gloriously immortalized throughout the world?

Andrew the First-Called

Apostle Andrew, known as the apostle Andrew the First-Called,- one of the disciples of Jesus Christ, brother of the Apostle Peter. It is mentioned in the books of the New Testament.

Like Peter, Andrei was a simple fisherman. He was born in the city of Bethsaida, on the shores of Lake Galilee.

Francisco de Zurbaran "St. Andrew the Apostle"

At first, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist, but when Christ called him, he was the first to follow Him, which is why he was called the First Called. Until the last day of the Savior’s earthly journey, his First-Called Apostle followed Him, and he was a witness to the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ.

The reason why the St. Andrew's Cross is present on the flags of many countries is that the Apostle Andrew visited many countries preaching about Christ. And those countries where he visited consider him their patron. On the day of Pentecost (50 days after the Resurrection of Christ), the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire. This is how they received the gift of healing, prophecy and the ability to speak in different languages. The 12 apostles divided among themselves the countries where they were supposed to convert pagans to Christianity. Saint Andrew was given the land by lot Bithynia(Asia Minor), Propontids(region of Turkey), Thrace(modern region of Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey), Macedonia in the Balkans , Scythia, Thessaly(coast of the Aegean Sea), Hellas(Greece), Achaia(Southern Balkans), many individual cities. But the first field of his apostolic ministry was Black Sea coast.

Almost everywhere the authorities met him with cruel persecution. He suffered especially much torment in the city of Sinope, where he was subjected to cruel torture by the pagans. But Saint Andrew again turned out to be healthy and unharmed from his wounds.

According to medieval legend, the Apostle Andrew visited the territory of Rus', therefore he is its patron saint. In Kyiv, he left his pectoral cross, after which he visited Novgorod and Volkhov, located nearby.

He also visited modern Abkhazia, Alania And Adygea, and then arrived in the city of Byzantium and was the first to preach the teachings of Christ there. Here he founded the Christian Church.

Andrew the First-Called suffered martyrdom on an oblique cross in Patras (Greece), this cross has since been called St. Andrew's Cross. This happened in the 70s of the 1st century.

Martyrdom of St. Andrew the First-Called

The last years of the apostle’s life passed in the city of Patras. Here he preached and gathered a large Christian community around him. In Patras he performed many miracles: healing by laying on of hands, raising the dead. Ruler Aegeat ordered the execution of Andrew the First-Called by crucifying him on the cross. But the apostle considered himself unworthy to die on the same cross as Jesus Christ, so they chose an oblique cross for execution. Governor Aegeates ordered that he not be nailed to the cross, but tied by his arms and legs in order to prolong the torment. For two days the apostle preached from the cross. The people listening to him demanded to stop the execution, and the ruler, fearing popular unrest, ordered the apostle to be removed from the cross. But Andrew the First-Called wanted to accept death in the name of Christ, so the soldiers could not untie the ropes. His life reports that when the holy apostle died, the cross was illuminated with a bright radiance. According to legend, at the site of the crucifixion of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, a spring gushed out.

Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called in Patras (Greece)

At the same place in Patras, the majestic Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called, the largest in Greece, was erected.

About flags using St. Andrew's Cross

St. Andrew's cross is a common symbol depicted on the flags of many states and administrative units.

Flag of Scotland

This is a flag Alabama(one of the US states), flag Katwijk(communities in the Netherlands), flag Scotland(Andrew the First-Called is considered her patron), flag Tenerife(spanish island), flag Jamaica, flag Potchefstroom(provinces of South Africa), three St. Andrew's crosses are located on the flag and coat of arms Amsterdam. And about 20 more flags of different countries bear the St. Andrew’s Cross.

Flag of the Russian Navy

St. Andrew's flag is the main ship's stern flag of the Russian fleet. It is a white panel crossed diagonally by two blue stripes, which form an inclined St. Andrew's cross.

Flag of the Russian Navy

In 1698 Peter I established the first order in Russia (the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle) to reward military exploits and public service.

The order consisted of a gold cross, a blue ribbon, a silver eight-pointed star and a gold chain. In the center of the star, in a rosette covered with red enamel and gold stripes, is a double-headed eagle, crowned with three crowns; on the eagle’s chest is an oblique blue cross.

Badge on the order chain and star of the order

The symbolism of the St. Andrew's flag was a tribute to the memory of Peter I to his father, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who first established a special flag for the first Russian military vessel - the three-masted galliot "Eagle".

Peter I personally worked on the design of the flag of the Russian Navy and drew several options. Peter I himself described the eighth (last) version of the flag as follows: “The flag is white, across it there is a blue St. Andrew’s Cross, with which he christened Russia”. In this form, the St. Andrew's flag existed in the Russian Navy until November 1917.

On January 17, 1992, the Russian government adopted a resolution to return the St. Andrew's flag to the status of the Russian Naval flag. On February 15, 1992, the St. Andrew's flag was consecrated in St. Petersburg in the St. Nicholas Cathedral.

The guis (bow flag of a ship or vessel) of the navy also bears the St. Andrew's Cross. Both flags (hull and stern) were replaced in 1918 by the flag of the RSFSR, and then by the newly created huys and naval flag of the USSR.

Guys of the Russian Navy

The official banner of the Russian Navy is based on the flag of the Russian Navy, it was approved by Federal Law No. 162 of December 29, 2000.