Scottish Godbrothers
St. Andrew's flag, which became a symbol of Russian victories navy, like many other innovations, appeared in Russia during the time of Peter I.
The first state flag in history with the so-called St. Andrew's cross appeared in Scotland.
Apostle Andrew the First-Called suffered martyrdom on an oblique cross. According to legend, in 832, King Angus II, who led the army of Picts and Scots, before the battle with the Angles, led by Athelstan, on the night before the battle prayed to God for victory on the battlefield and vowed that in case of victory he would declare St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called patron saint of Scotland. In the morning, the clouds above the battlefield formed the letter “X” in the blue sky, repeating the shape of the cross on which the Apostle Andrew was crucified. The inspired Scots and Picts defeated the enemy, after which Andrew the First-Called was proclaimed the patron saint of Scotland. The country's flag is a white oblique cross on a blue background.
After the personal union of England and Scotland emerged in 1606, the Scottish cross became part of the common flag of the United Kingdom and is still present today.
The fleet received a flag in honor of the heavenly patron of Russia
When, at the turn of the 17th–18th centuries, Peter I thought about new state symbols, the oblique cross was among the most preferred symbols.
According to legend, the Apostle Andrew visited the lands of future Rus', therefore, starting from the 11th century, he was a particularly revered saint in the Russian lands - the heavenly patron of Russia.
In 1698, Peter I established the first order in Russia, which was the highest award of the Russian Empire - the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called. It is not surprising that among the flag designs that the tsar himself drew, there was also a flag with an oblique cross.
On December 11, 1699, Peter I approved a flag with a blue oblique cross on a white background as one of the flags adopted for use in the Russian fleet. In fact, the finalization of the flag and status was carried out by the tsar for another two decades, and only the Naval Charter of 1720 established: “The flag is white, across it there is a blue St. Andrew’s cross, with which he christened Russia.”
“God and St. Andrew’s flag are with us!”
From that moment until 1917, the St. Andrew's flag became the main and only one in the Russian Navy. In 1819, it was supplemented by the St. George Admiral's flag, which was the St. Andrew's flag, in the center of which a red heraldic shield with a canonical image was placed Saint George the Victorious. Such a flag was awarded to a ship whose crew showed exceptional courage and bravery in achieving victory or in defending the honor of the naval flag.
Initially, the length of the St. Andrew's flag reached four meters. The gigantic size was needed so that the banner fluttering in the wind would create a terrifying roar - this was a kind of psychic attack.
The veneration of St. Andrew's flag in the fleet was extremely great. The commanders of Russian ships, entering into battle, invariably repeated the same phrase: “God and St. Andrew’s flag are with us.”
The ship that lowered its flag was burned, the captain was forbidden to marry
The naval charter of Peter I, which ordered the defense of St. Andrew's flag to the last drop of blood, was strictly observed. In the entire history of the Russian fleet, the flag was lowered voluntarily only twice.
On May 11, 1829, the commander of the Russian frigate "Raphael", captain 2nd rank Semyon Stroynikov, lowered the flag in front of a Turkish squadron of 15 ships, trying to save the lives of the crew.
A personal decree of Emperor Nicholas I ordered that the frigate that had disgraced itself should be burned if it fell into the hands of the Russians. This happened only 24 years later, in Battle of Sinop, however, the will of the emperor was carried out - “Raphael”, who was in Turkish Navy, burned, and this name was never used for Russian ships again.
As for Captain Stroynikov, upon his return from captivity he was stripped of all awards and titles, and was also demoted to ordinary sailors. Moreover, Stroynikov was forbidden to marry, “so as not to have the offspring of a coward and a traitor in Russia.” The paradox, however, was that the disgraced captain already had two sons by that time, and both of them later became rear admirals of the Russian fleet.
The second time the flags on Russian ships were lowered in 1905, at the end of the Battle of Tsushima, on the orders of Rear Admiral Nebogatov, who sought to save the lives of the remaining sailors and officers.
In August 1905, for this act, he was stripped of his ranks, and then put on trial, which in December 1906 sentenced the rear admiral to death penalty, replaced by 10 years of imprisonment in a fortress. Nebogatov served 25 months, after which he was pardoned.
Return
The St. Andrew's flag ceased to be the flag of the Russian Navy in 1917. The last St. Andrew's flags on Russian ships were lowered in 1924 in the port of Bizerte in northern Africa, where the ships of the White Army squadron were concentrated.
The darkest page in the history of the St. Andrew's flag was its use as symbolism by collaborators from the Russian liberation army(ROA) of General Vlasov, who fought on the side of the Nazis.
In January 1992, the Russian government decided to return the St. Andrew's flag to the Russian Navy instead of the flag of the USSR Navy.
On July 26, 1992, on Navy Day, the flags of the USSR Navy were raised for the last time on all warships, after which they were 
lowered. Instead of them, with the anthem Russian Federation St. Andrew's flags were raised.
The only ship where the St. Andrew's flag is not raised to this day is the Soviet submarine S-56, which has become a war memorial. In tribute to the feat of Soviet sailors during the Great Patriotic War Patriotic War on the S-56 there is a daily ceremony of raising and lowering the flag of the USSR Navy, and Russian symbols are not used
In the navy, flags are used to indicate that ships belong to a particular state. Currently, our fleet uses the following types of flags.
Stern naval ensign
A naval ensign, also called a stern naval ensign, is a sign that a ship (military vessel) belongs to the armed forces of a state. The flag is usually rectangular in shape. The naval flag may differ in color from the state flag, or may repeat it. The date of the first raising of the flag is also the ship’s birthday, and is solemnly celebrated by the crew every year.
At the parking lot, the flag is raised at 8 a.m. (on holidays and weekends at 9 a.m.) and lowered at sunset, and in the polar seas - by special order of the fleet commander. If the ship is on a voyage, the flag is not lowered. In Russia the official naval flag is St. Andrew's flag, introduced by Peter the Great.
Jack
In addition to the stern flag, the ship also carries a jack. Guys belong exclusively to military courts. Guys is also raised at naval fortresses and other coastal military installations, which is why it is also called the “fortress flag.” Huys (translated from Dutch as flag) is usually located on the bow of a military vessel. In the Russian Navy, the jack is raised on the bow of ships of the 1st and 2nd ranks (including submarines) on a special jack-rod every day and simultaneously with the stern flag, but only during anchorage.
Pennant
In addition to the jack, the ships carry a pennant - a narrow and long flag forked at the end. The pennant is raised on the mast of a warship during voyage and denotes the nationality of the warship.
Braid pennant
Flags and flags of officials are also used in the navy. A braid pennant is a flag of reduced size with a conical panel and braids of various colors (or a wide and short pennant). Raised on the main mast by commanders of formations, divisions and commanders of ship detachments.
History of St. Andrew's Flag
On the territory of Russia, flags on ships appeared long before the actual centralized state. Old Russian rooks usually carried two flags: one large rectangular, the second with a cut out corner on the outside - braids.
The first national flag was raised on the ship "Eagle", built by order of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich by the Dutch engineer Botman. It consisted of three stripes: white, blue and red, with a double-headed eagle sewn on top of the stripes. This flag owes its origin to the coat of arms of the Moscow State.
St. Andrew's flag originates from the First-Called Apostle Andrew. According to legend, the Apostle visited the territory of future Rus' and is its patron. The Apostle Andrew was also the heavenly patron of Constantinople and Byzantium, the Second Rome. The patronage of Russia by Apostle Andrew in the minds of the people ensured a historical connection with Byzantium, the acceptance of its spiritual and imperial values (the concept of Russia as the Third Rome).
The Apostle Andrew was crucified in Greece on an oblique cross. For the first time, the image of a blue oblique cross appears in 1698 on the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, established by Peter I. This is the highest award in the Russian Empire until 1917. In the center of the star on the order was a double-headed eagle, on the chest of which there was an oblique blue cross. Especially for the fleet, Peter developed eight versions of the flag, one of the options consisted of three stripes: white, blue and red (the base was the flag of Alexei Mikhailovich), and on top of them was an oblique blue cross.
Sketches of the flag, personally drawn by Peter the Great
There is a legend that Peter I, thinking about the sketch of the flag, dozed off a little and when he woke up, he saw how the rays of the sun passing through the mica window drew an oblique blue cross on a sheet of paper. On a later sketch of the flag, the inscription made by Peter I was preserved: “To Zane St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called, enlighten the Russian land with the light of Christ’s teaching.”
St. Andrew's flag from 1712 to 1917 - naval ensign Russian Empire
All versions of the flag developed by Peter I were accepted in the navy until it was established in 1712 final edition a flag in the form of a white cloth and an oblique blue cross to the borders of the cloth. Its original name was the First Admiral's Flag, then from 1797 - the Senior Admiral's Flag, and from 1865 - the stern flag of warships. Now it is a naval ensign. There were St. Andrew's flags of admirals, there was a St. Andrew's flag of the Admiral General, the Minister of the Navy, the Admiralty, and the commander of the fleet. Each warship carried a pennant - a long white, gradually fading flag with the image of St. Andrew's flag. The pennant served as an external sign that the ship was ready for service.
Russian guy and fortress flag from 1701 to 1924
St. Andrew's flag in the form of a white field with a blue oblique cross existed officially until October 1917, when the new revolutionary government abolished all symbols Tsarist Russia. But still, the last St. Andrew’s flag was lowered by a ship of the former Russian Empire in Tunisia only in December 1924. The official jack of the Empire was used in the RSFSR until 1924, after which they only added a red circle with the image of a hammer and sickle in the center, and in this form the jack existed until 1932.
The attitude towards the flag was special, under it sailors selflessly fought and died for their Motherland in numerous naval battles. Under this flag the glory of Russia was achieved, round the world travel and numerous discoveries, this flag is a symbol of the selfless help of Russian sailors to different peoples. Lowering the flag meant surrendering; it was unthinkable; sometimes during battles, ships went under water, continuing to proudly fly their flag. In the Petrovsky Charter it was written: “All Russian ships must not lower their flag to anyone.” The last parting words of the commanders of Russian ships to their crews before the battle were: “God and St. Andrew’s flag are with us!”
The return of the St. Andrew's flag as the official naval flag took place in 1992 by decree of the Government of the Russian Federation. The first St. Andrew's flag was consecrated in the same year, 1992, in St. Petersburg in the St. Nicholas (Sea) Cathedral. The consecrated flag of the Leningrad Naval Base was presented to the base commander V. E. Selivanov. At the same time, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation it was ordered to “raise on ships and vessels Black Sea Fleet historical Russian St. Andrew's flag and pennants."
The St. Andrew's flag is proudly carried by ships of the Russian Navy
Yachtsmen should not raise the St. Andrew's flag on a yacht even out of a high sense of patriotism - this is the naval flag of Russia, and the authorities of any state are simply forced to treat your yacht as a Russian military vessel with all the ensuing consequences. You shouldn’t put yourself and foreign military personnel in a stupid position.
The main ship's stern flag of the Russian fleet is considered to be the St. Andrew's flag. It represents the intersection of two blue stripes on a white background. The intersection of these two stripes is called St. Andrew's Cross, hence the name of the flag.
The history of the St. Andrew's flag, as the main flag of the Russian fleet, and the history of the creation of this symbolism is very long: since the reign of Tsar Peter I. According to a long-standing Biblical legend, Tsar Peter had his own divine patrons - the brothers Apostle Andrei and the Apostles patronized maritime trade, because They fished in the Sea of Galilee. One day the brothers were called by Christ to come to him. The first of them was Andrei, which is why he was called Andrei the First-Called. Also, Apostle Andrew, according to ancient legends, is considered the patron saint of Slavic lands and the people inhabiting these lands. Nowadays, in a village called Gruzino there is a temple named after St. Andrew the First-Called (previously it was the city of Volkhovo). The temple was erected in honor of the fact that Saint Andrew visited the city and left his pectoral cross as a sign of this. Also, according to legend, the Apostle visited the lands of the cities of Novgorod and Kyiv and also left a pectoral cross there. On his journey, the Apostle tirelessly preached Christianity and a humble way of life, and he also accepted martyrdom - crucifixion.
For the first time in Russia in 1698, Tsar Peter I accepted the order. It was awarded for good public service and various military exploits. This order is a gold cross with a blue ribbon. All this was attached to a gold chain. On the cross is made of silver, in the center of the star there is a small eagle, and on the chest of the eagle there is a ribbon in the form of St. Andrew's cross.
For the first time, the symbolism of St. Andrew's flag was used not by his father, Alexei Mikhailovich. He came up with a flag designed specifically for the first military ship in Russia. This ship was called "Eagle".
Tsar Peter paid a lot of attention to flags. He personally designed and designed flags for the navy. Almost all flags used the theme of St. Andrew's Cross. When designing flags, the Tsar most often used blue, white and red colors. All the flags he created were accepted by the fleet. And one of them, which consisted of vertical stripes of white, blue and red, began to be considered and was even drawn in the atlases of that time.
Well, the most final version of the flag is considered to be the St. Andrew’s flag (blue St. Andrew’s cross on a white background). It became the main ship symbol of the Russian fleet. This flag in this form existed in the Russian Navy until November 1917.
And in 1992, on January 17, the Russian government decided to return the St. Andrew's flag and make it again to Russia. The return of an old naval comrade was received by the fleet with great joy. St. Andrew's flag was illuminated in St. Petersburg in the St. Nicholas Cathedral. We can see it on Russian ships, both military and civilian.
St. Andrew's cross and St. Andrew's flag, a photo of which you saw in the presented article, can be considered very widespread, significant, recognizable symbols.
St. Andrew's flag is a white cloth with two diagonal stripes of blue color. This cross gave the name to the flag. The symbolism of St. Andrew's Cross is rooted in the history of early Christianity. Apostle Andrew was the brother of Apostle Peter. Both brothers fished in the Sea of Galilee, which led to their patronage of maritime trade. Andrew was the first whom Christ called to be his disciple, therefore he was called the First Called. According to medieval legend, Apostle Andrew also visited the territory of future Rus', and therefore is considered the patron saint of Russia. In Kyiv, he left a pectoral cross, after which, when he visited Novgorod and nearby Volkhov. The Apostle Andrew became famous after tirelessly preaching Christianity on his journey and accepting martyrdom on an oblique cross in the Greek city of Patras.
In 1698, Peter I established the first order in Russia - the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called - 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 in the form of a flare, there is a double-headed eagle crowned with three crowns; on the chest of the eagle there is an oblique blue cross. The symbolism of the St. Andrew's flag was also a tribute to the memory of Peter I and his father, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who first established a special flag for the first Russian military vessel - the three-masted galliot "Eagle".
Having become king, Peter I paid a lot of attention to the development of designs for the Navy flag. In 1692 he personally drew two designs. One of them had three parallel stripes with the inscription "white", "blue", "red", the second had the same colors with a St. Andrew's cross on top of them. In 1693 and 1695, the second design was included in some international atlases as the flag of "Muscovy".
From 1692 to 1712, Peter I drew eight more designs for the Navy flag, which were successively adopted by the Navy. The last (eighth) and final version was described by Peter I 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 regarding the return of the St. Andrew's flag to the status of the Russian Naval flag. On Saturday, February 15, 1992, the St. Andrew's flag was consecrated in St. Petersburg in the St. Nicholas Cathedral.
The Navy Guy 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.
Pre-revolutionary and guis were reintroduced into the Russian Navy in 1992, and they are still in use today. The official banner of the Russian Navy, based on the flag of the Russian Navy, was approved by Federal Law No. 162 of December 29, 2000 (with subsequent amendments and additions).
St. Andrew's cross is a common symbol depicted on the flags of many states and administrative units. It is often an integral part of naval flags (Russia, Bulgaria, Belgium, Georgia, Latvia, Estonia).
The Scottish flag, one of the oldest national flags in the world, is also a blue rectangular panel with a white oblique (St. Andrew's) cross. The Scottish flag was included as a component in the flag of Great Britain in 1606, and through it into the flags of Australia, New Zealand and other states of the British Commonwealth. The flags of all British colonies, before they gained independence, featured the British flag.
Three St. Andrew's crosses are located on the flag and coat of arms of Amsterdam.
St. Andrew's Cross was placed on the flag of the Southern Confederacy.
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St. Andrew's Flag Day
On December 11, Russia celebrates St. Andrew's Flag Day. In the Voenpro review - the history of the naval St. Andrew's flag. There is also the opportunity to buy the St. Andrew's flag and other goods with the symbols of the Russian naval flag.
The history of the creation of St. Andrew's flag
A mandatory state attribute is the flag, which is created based on the combination different colors and symbols. But other administrative-territorial units, international organizations, government agencies and military formations also have their own banners.
For the army, the flag does not just play a symbolic role, but is one of the main elements of the existence of a combat unit. In the old days, the loss of a battle flag could lead to the dissolution of the entire unit that could not keep track of its flag.
The history of the creation of the Russian navy is connected with Peter the Great, who, after his trip to European countries, decided on the need to form strong army on the sea.
The new military formation required its own flag, so the emperor personally took up its development. A total of 8 options were drawn, from which the most successful was chosen. The actual history of the St. Andrew's flag in Rus' dates back to December 11, 1699.
At first, the St. Andrew's Cross was simply added to the banner, and the complete transition to the flag in its usual form took place in 1712, after which it was used on all ships of the Russian squadron.
It is worth noting that St. Andrew's Cross has roots in the distant past associated with religious events. The fact is that one of the apostles - Andrew the First-Called - was executed by crucifixion on an oblique cross, after which he began to be called St. Andrew's.
This symbol is very popular in heraldry and is often used on flags in various variations. It can be seen on the canvases of Jamaica, Great Britain, Scotland, Australia, British Territories, various regional associations and organizations.
Having finally approved the Russian St. Andrew's flag, the emperor said the following phrase: “The flag is white, through which the blue cross of St. Andrew is for the sake of the fact that from this apostle Rus' received holy baptism.”
It was under this banner that the imperial fleet won a large number of glorious victories and performed a lot of heroic deeds. In the entire history of battles, of which there are several dozen, St. Andrew's flag was lowered by the team only twice.
For the first time, the frigate "Raphael" voluntarily capitulated, surrendering to the mercy of the Turkish squadron in May 1829, and for the second time, 5 ships surrendered at once during the Tsushima battle of the Russo-Japanese War.
The importance of the banner for the fleet is evidenced by the fact that in his parting words before the battle, the ship’s commander said at the end the phrase: “God and St. Andrew’s flag are with us!” It was necessary to defend the banner to the last, and, as a last resort, to destroy it, but not give it into the hands of the enemy.
St. Andrew's flag in the USSR
The St. Andrew's Navy flag lost its official status in 1917 after the revolution. But until 1924, it was used by ships of the rebel White Guards who fought to restore the monarchy. IN Soviet times all characters Imperial Russia were banned.
During the Second World War, the collaborationist army of General Vlasov fought under the St. Andrew’s flag. Because of this, part of the population perceives a white banner crossed out with a blue cross negatively. But here it is worth noting that simply not everyone knows the true origin and meaning of this symbol.
St. Andrew's Flag Day of Russia
After the collapse of the USSR, the naval St. Andrew's flag was returned to the Russian fleet on January 17, 1992. It is noteworthy that the day before this, a meeting of the heads of the CIS powers took place, at which a joint decision was made to return historical banners to the ships.
On July 21, 1992, the corresponding decree of the President of the Russian Federation was signed on the use of the St. Andrew's flag by all combat units of the Navy.
It was decided to celebrate the holiday of St. Andrew's flag on December 11th in order to pay tribute to its creator. For the population as a whole, this day passes almost unnoticed, but in the navy the date is one of the most important of the year.
All sailors congratulate each other on the holiday, and gala dinners are served on the ships. The command also conducts lectures on the history of the Russian fleet to raise the morale of the personnel and show that they can be proud of their ancestors.
The sea St. Andrew's flag flies not only on the ships of the fleet, but also over the Kronstadt lighthouse. It is this port city that is the cradle of the Russian fleet, so here, contrary to established tradition, not regional symbols are used, but a military banner.
Although there are no symbols associated with the St. Andrew's Cross on the city flag itself, none of the townspeople object to such symbolism.
Where to buy symbols with the St. Andrew's flag?
You can buy gifts with the St. Andrew's flag at the Voentpro military store. The online store offers a rich collection of accessories with prints of the Russian navy.
Here you can find themed T-shirts, sweatshirts, shirts, hats and a lot of other clothing items. All images are applied using modern technologies, so that they can withstand numerous washing cycles and not lose their original appearance under the influence of external factors.
Delivery is carried out to any city in the world, and the client can choose a payment method from numerous options.
There are other souvenirs with St. Andrew's flag on sale. For example, you can purchase a flask, keychain, lighter and many, many other useful products that will have practical use.
Any sailor will gladly accept such a thing as a gift, which will always remind him of his belonging to the sea element. Even on the shore, he will always remember the endless blue expanses.
The flag itself is also sold at Voenpro, and you can choose sizes from a small flag on the glass of a car to a huge banner that you can put in the yard of your house.