Apostle · 1st century
Matthew
Apostle and Evangelist Matthew
New Calendar November 16 Old Calendar November 29
Why they are a saint
Matthew was tax collector called by Christ; author of the first Gospel. Tradition says he preached in Ethiopia or Persia and was martyred. The years given for this life are 1st century. His name is kept with the apostles of the Twelve or of the Seventy.
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 Matthew as a patron when they bear the name Matthew at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on November 16. Those who share his calling as a missionary also ask his prayers.
Prayer
O holy 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.