As runners in the Little Rock Marathon raced downtown today, they went past this sculpture of St. Andrew which sits in front of the Cathedral of St. Andrew near the race course.

The sculpture, St. Andrew – Ave Crux (Behold the Cross) was installed in 1979 under the leadership of Bishop Andrew J. McDonald of the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock and Monsignor B. F. McDevitt, Rector of the Cathedral of St. Andrew.

In 1981, the statue was dedicated as a memorial to Monsignor McDevitt.

The statue, by the sculptor Pedrini, is just under 10 feet tall and is carved out of Carrara marble.  It depicts St. Andrew holding a scroll with the words “Go Teach All Nations” as well as a string bag of fish.

These items pay homage to his background as a fisherman and his work as a disciple who taught and traveled as far as Russia, Turkey and Italy — far journeys from the Holy Land in ancient times.

The saltire, or X shaped cross, stands behind him.  Also known as St. Andrews cross, legend has it that he was crucified on a cross of this shape as opposed to the traditional “T” shape.