Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland

The patron saint of Scotland is more a man of myths and legends than hard facts.

There are many contradictory accounts about St Andrew's life, death and legacy that have been promoted at various stages in religious history.

St Andrew never visited Scotland but centuries after his death it is said that his bones were brought to Kilrymont.

Kilrymont, re-named St Andrews, grew into a powerful religious centre.

There are many schools of thought on how and why Andrew's bones came to Scotland. What is not disputed is that after the bones arrived, Andrew became the focus of national aspiration.

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One explanation is that King Nechtan of the Picts was looking for a way to promote the Pictish kingdom as a powerful stronghold of Christianity. He had already established a bishopric at Abernethy. After Nechtan abdicated in 738 to become a monk he was succeeded by King Angus I.

Whilst Angus was not as pious as Nechtan he was looking to establish a similar sacred centre in the Pict Kingdom as existed in Lindisfarne where St Cuthbert's bones lay and then had Andrew's relics brought to Fife.

Saint Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, is a man of myths and legends

A common legend is that of St Regulus, also known as St Rule, who was the keeper of St Andrew's bones at Patras, where Andrew was crucified.

Regulus was told in a dream to take St Andrew's bones from Patras and form a church where he landed.

It is said St Regulus was shipwrecked at Fife. This established a direct link between St Andrew and Scotland conveniently ignoring the remaining bones that had earlier been taken to Italy.

The legend also conveniently circumvents the fact that St Andrew's bones had ever been on English soil. In reality, the bones were most likely to have been brought to Scotland via Hexham by Acca, the Bishop of Hexham, who was a follower of St Andrew.

Battle of Athelstaneford

Another explanation is that King Angus II who ruled from 820 to 840 was the founder of St Andrews.

Michael TRB Turnbull, author of 'Saint Andrew: Scotland's Myth and Identity' explains: "At the same time St Rule reaches Muckross in Fife, the Apostle appears to the Pictish King Óengus at the Battle of Athelstaneford and promises victory over his enemies.

"While there is little doubt that a battle or a series of skirmishes similar to Athelstaneford took place at some date and at some place, we are, with the foundation of the church at Kilrymont, on much surer ground, since it refers to an easily-recognisable institution — the site of what eventually became the great cathedral church of St Andrews."

He added: "The battle at Athelstaneford was a water-shed in Scottish history, the symbol and sign of a decisive turning-point where Christianity finally succeeded in winning over the most influential royal, civic and military backing."

St Andrew's Day is celebrated in Scotland on 30 November each year.

This is known as the birth date of the saint but probably owes more to the fact that Gregory of Tours (538-594) wrote of St Andrew's miracles and Gregory's birthday happened to fall on 30 November.