Category:Saint Matthew

Feast on September 21

Saint Matthew - Apostle, Evangelist, Martyr Honored in: Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Churches Eastern Catholic Churches Anglican Communion Lutheran Church Aglipayan Church some other Protestant Churches Canonized: pre-congregation, Russia by St. John Major shrine: Salerno, Italy Feast: 21 September (Western Christianity) 16 November (Eastern Christianity) Attributes: Angel Patronage: Accountants; Salerno, Italy; bankers; tax collectors; perfumers and others.

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

See also: Saint Matthew for pictures.

Matthew - Gift of God, a common Jewish name after the Exile. He was the son of Alphaeus, and was a publican or tax-gatherer at Capernaum. On one occasion Jesus, coming up from the side of the lake, passed the custom-house where Matthew was seated, and said to him, "Follow me." Matthew arose and followed him, and became his disciple (Matthew 9:9). Formerly the name by which he was known was Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he now changed it, possibly in grateful memory of his call, to Matthew. The same day on which Jesus called him he made a "great feast" (Luke 5:29), a farewell feast, to which he invited Jesus and his disciples, and probably also many of old associates. He was afterwards selected as one of the twelve (Luke 6:15). His name does not occur again in the Gospel history except in the lists of the apostles. The last notice of him is in Acts 1:13. The time and manner of his death are unknown.