Apostle
Evangelist Matthew
Apostle and Evangelist Matthew
New Calendar November 16 Old Calendar November 29
Why they are a saint
He was a Galilean, the son of Alphaeus, and was originally named Levi. He was a tax-collector (an occupation despised by the Jews of Palestine) until he met the Lord, who said to him, “Follow me.” From that day he was one of the disciples. After the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Apostle was appointed to bring the Gospel to his fellow Jews, for whom, according to the Church’s tradition, he wrote down the Gospel for the first time, in the Aramaic language, eight years after the Ascension.
Life
Saint Matthew, also called Levi, was one of the Twelve Apostles and the brother of the Apostle James son of Alphaeus. He was a publican, a tax-collector for Rome, living in Capernaum. When he heard Christ say, 'Follow Me,' he left everything, and the Lord and His disciples ate at his house with publicans and sinners.
He witnessed the Lord's miracles, His suffering, death, Resurrection and Ascension. After Pentecost he preached in Palestine for several years, and at the request of Jewish converts in Jerusalem he wrote his Gospel, which stands first in the New Testament, before leaving to preach in distant lands.
He brought the Gospel to Syria, Media, Persia and Parthia, and finished his preaching in Ethiopia with a martyr's death.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source names no specific patronage.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Evangelist Matthew as a patron when they bear the name and at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on November 16. As an apostle, he is also asked to pray for missionaries and those who spread the Gospel.
Prayer
O holy Evangelist Matthew, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.