In the Life of Saint Andrew the Fool by Nikephoros the Presbyter, there are narrated two examples of how Saint Andrew possessed the ability to speak in tongues by the grace of God. The first narrative describes both Andrew and a servant miraculously switch into the Syriac language for the purpose of conversing privately. This circumstance allowed both parties to speak freely while others in the same room did not have the ability to understand what they were talking about. The second one was where Andrew had the spiritual ability to see inside people’s lives and name their secret sins. Added to this miracle was the supernatural ability to speak to each person about their innermost secrets in their native tongue. Once again, the supernatural ability to speak in a foreign language was for the purpose of confidentiality. Whatever was spoken was strictly between Andrew and the person. Andrew’s miracle eliminated any possibility of public shame. Below are translations of the two accounts:
First Reference to Speaking in Tongues
While these were chatting about things, one of the slaves of Epiphanios, who was appointed for his father’s catering, recognized with spiritual insight the Venerable One’s calling (how he knew such things, God only knows). This one sat at his feet, entreating God with tears that he would be imparted such works himself. The righteous man knew what it is, the very thing the servant was earnestly pleading provision for. Wishing to converse with him alone, he was transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit along with the speech of the servant to a language between them, and the Venerable One remained seated, and was speaking to him in Syriac in everything that he wanted. The servant furthermore said: “Except that I am not worthy nor should I entreat to you such things that would beget equality.” Then the Venerable One replied to him: “You cannot bear the sweatings and the digging of ditches in regards to this fame, seeing that the way is of oppression and of infinite toil and distress. Remain rather as one with godliness and dignity being trained under your lord Epiphanios the great things for you and the matters respectful of salvation, fleeing fornications, grudges, and the list of the other remaining passions. What is the need for you to subject yourself with such punishments?” Then the servant said to him, “If you therefore wish to give ear to me about my misery, say to me you cannot do this.” When these matters were heard, the Venerable One fell silent.
Epiphanios, seeing the sudden change of language by his servant which he never learned to speak, he reckoned in his heart these things and spoke, “Blessed miracle! The Holy Saints can do so great a work!" The Blessed One beseeched of the Lord for the servant, a grace on behalf of this person’s request, what then he was going to become, and a voice came to him saying: "This is not helpful, back off from this undertaking! Show him how great a matter it is, he should not aspire such things like your low stature." Therefore, the Blessed One spoke to the Angel standing nearby. "Fill the cup of pleasure, from which the grace upon grace has flourished for me." Thus, the angel of the Lord completed the task. And the Blessed One said to him, "Υοu will drink this resting on my feet." Then immediately, he was given to drink the thing unable by normal people to see and the servant began to do a similar appearance to the divinely inspired father Andrew, which upon seeing this, brought a smile to the joyful one. On the other hand, Epiphanios, seeing the matter unfolding, was disturbed, fearing lest he should bring any kind of indignation by his father, so he said to the Blessed One, “I require of you, servant of God, not to do this thing inside the house of my father, lest at some point he would regard you with contempt, and God shall be blamed instead of goodness, and you can witness him hating and cursing me to the ancestry, and after that moment never bring you again. I therefore beseech and request that you do not dismiss my trivial request. Remember one day my love of your household servant.”
Second Reference to Speaking in Tongues
As they seated around him, the Blessed Andrew saw with a keen eye of understanding the work of each one, and with what kind of error each one had committed. And wishing that he could help them, having turned around, he began to give a speech, uttering a certain parable. So these people were listening and feeling shame regarding the words of the Venerable One, as if they carried a flame with reverence, these were numb from shuddering, some were confused and fearful, others who felt ashamed were withdrawing. For indeed, in the simplicity of the Righteous one, the speech sharply named the sins of everyone — both in what manner and how they committed them. And then this occurred, he identified the sins in each person’s language. The people who are captivated by this event said, “This man is acquainted with the things about me.”