This episode looks at a little-read but fascinating Anglo-Saxon poem  called Andreas, named after St. Andrew.  Andreas is plainly patterned  after Beowulf, but is more explicitly Christian in its literary  features, particularly its symbolism.    In the tale, Andreas is a missionary to a cannibalistic tribe called the  Myrmidonians, who are so savage that they violate the xenia taboo and  even eat their guests.  Andreas is sent by God to rescue Matthew, who  has been thrown into prison and is soon to be eaten.  The text is in  many ways typological and engaging richly with various Biblical texts,  as well as Beowulf.    The most important feature of this poem is the way in which Andreas is  marked by liturgical elements that demonstrate that its poet is clearly  seeking to make his culture Christian, not just his civilization.