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[[image:Matthew.jpg|right|thumb|An image of St . Matthew writing his Gospel from a 10th century manuscript]]The holy, glorious and all-laudable [[apostles|Apostle]] and [[Evangelist]] '''Matthew''' is traditionally believed to be the author of the [[Gospel of Matthew]]and one of the Twelve Apostles. The apostle's symbol is an [[angel]]. He is commemorated by the Church on [[November 16]], as well as on [[June 30]] with the Twelve.

Matthew was originally called Levi. He was the son of Alphaeus and was by profession a publican, or tax-collector, at Capernaum. On one occasion [[Jesus Christ|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 Christ, becoming his [[disciple ]] (Matthew 9:9). He changed his name to reflect his new calling (. "Matthew " means "Gift of the Lord.").

The same day on which Jesus called him he made a "great feast" ([[Gospel of Luke|Luke ]] 5:29), a farewell feast, to which he invited Jesus and his disciples and probably also many of his old associates. The last notice of him in the [[New Testament]] is in [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 1:13.

After the [[resurrection ]] of our Lord, Matthew went and preached amongst the Jews. His Gospel was probably first written in [[Aramaic ]] and later translated into Greek. Eventually Matthew went to Ethiopia to spread the [[gospel]]. There he was martyred [[martyr]]ed by Fulvian, the ruler of the region, by being set on fire. After Matthew willingly gave up his soul to the Lord, his body was put in a coffin and cast into the sea. It washed up at the site of the church he had built. Fulvian, Matthew's persecutor, immediately repented of his deed, renounced his position of worldly power, and was made a [[presbyter ]] by the [[Bishop ]] Platon (or Plato). Once Platon died, the apostle appeared to the priest (who had taken the name Matthew as well) and told him to assume the bishop's throne.

[[Troparion]] ([[Tone ]] 3)[http://www.oca.org/FSTropars.asp?ID=103313]

:the proclaimer of the the Gospel to the whole world!

[[Kontakion]] (Tone 4)[http://www.oca.org/FSTropars.asp?ID=103313]

 ==Sources and external links==

*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SIDFSID=103313 Apostle and Evangelist Matthew], November 16 ([[OCA]]) ==See also==*[[Missionary]] ==External links=4&ID=1&*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=103313 101851 Apostle and Evangelist Matthew], June 30 (OCA Hagiography)*[http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=294 Matthew the Apostle & Evangelist] ([[GOARCH]]) [[Category:Saints|Matthew]][[Category:Martyrs|Matthew]][[Category:Biblical Saints|Matthew]][[Category:Missionaries|Matthew]]