Orthodox saint
St Matthew the Apostle
St Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist
Άγιος Ματθαίος ο Απόστολος και Ευαγγελιστής · Апо́столъ и Еѵⷢ҇ли́стъ Матѳе́й · Апостол и евангелист Матфей
St Matthew the Apostle is remembered on 16 November (29 November on the Old Calendar). Orthodox Christians pray to St Matthew the Apostle for forgiveness of sins, true repentance from the whole heart and a change of life and a wholehearted following of Christ.
Feast days
- Feast
- Commemoration
- Kept on
- 16 November (29 November on the Old Calendar)
- Next, New Calendar
- Next, Old Calendar
- Feast
- Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
- Kept on
- 30 June (13 July on the Old Calendar)
- Next, New Calendar
- Next, Old Calendar
The New Calendar is kept by the Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and Bulgarian churches, the OCA and most converts; the Old Calendar by the Russian, Serbian and Georgian churches, Jerusalem and Mount Athos, 13 days later on the civil calendar.
The life of St Matthew the Apostle
St Matthew, also called Levi, was a tax collector for Rome in Capernaum, a trade his countrymen despised. When Jesus said to him, "Follow Me," he left everything at once. He welcomed the Lord to his table with his fellow publicans, repaid fourfold anyone he had cheated, and gave the rest to the poor. As one of the Twelve he saw the Savior's miracles, His Passion, Resurrection and Ascension, and he received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. At the request of the believers in Jerusalem he wrote the first Gospel, which shows Jesus as the Messiah foretold by the prophets. He then carried the Gospel to Syria, Persia, Parthia and Ethiopia, where he ended his life as a martyr. Orthodox Christians honor him as a living icon of conversion and pray to him, "entreat the merciful God to grant our souls forgiveness of sins."
What the faithful ask of St Matthew the Apostle
The faithful pray for
- forgiveness of sins
- true repentance from the whole heart
- a change of life and a wholehearted following of Christ
- his strong intercession and protection
- the salvation of our souls
St Matthew the Apostle protects
- those turning from a sinful life to Christ
- the faithful by his intercession before God
Patron of
- tax collectors (Western)
- accountants (Western)
- bankers (Western)
- civil servants (Western)
- repentant sinners called to new life
Miracles
In Ethiopia a wonderworking tree with a spring grew up through the apostle's prayer, and it softened the hearts of the local people.
When the ruler Fulvian ordered him burned, the fire melted the pagan idols. After his martyrdom his body was miraculously found in the sea, and Fulvian was baptized and became a bishop.
Where the traditions differ
Patronage of accountants, bankers, tax collectors and civil servants is a Western (Catholic) tradition. Orthodox sources give no trade patronage and ask him mainly for forgiveness of sins and repentance. Do not confuse him with the Apostle Matthias (9 Aug).
St Matthew the Apostle: icons and items in our shop
Our diptych pairs St Matthew the Apostle with the Guardian Angel: the patron saint and the angel given at baptism, side by side in one folding icon.
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you — Consecration, $49.
Ask our priest
Our priest can serve a moleben to St Matthew the Apostle for the people and the need you name.
Name days
These names keep their name day on a feast of St Matthew the Apostle:
Prayed to for
Related saints
Questions
When is the feast day of St Matthew the Apostle?
Commemoration: 16 November (29 November on the Old Calendar); Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles: 30 June (13 July on the Old Calendar).
What do Orthodox Christians pray to St Matthew the Apostle for?
Orthodox Christians pray to St Matthew the Apostle for forgiveness of sins, true repentance from the whole heart, a change of life and a wholehearted following of Christ, his strong intercession and protection and the salvation of our souls.
What is St Matthew the Apostle the patron saint of?
St Matthew the Apostle is the patron of tax collectors (Western), accountants (Western), bankers (Western), civil servants (Western) and repentant sinners called to new life.
What does St Matthew the Apostle protect from?
St Matthew the Apostle protects those turning from a sinful life to Christ and the faithful by his intercession before God.
Whose name day is on a feast of St Matthew the Apostle?
The name day of Matthew, Matvei, Matthaios, Mateo and Matej.
Sources
- OCA - Apostle and Evangelist Matthew (read 14 October 2026)
- Azbyka - Апостол и евангелист Матфей (Левий) (read 14 October 2026)
- Wikipedia - Matthew the Apostle (patronage) (read 14 October 2026)