Initially, the Holy Apostle Matthew wore the name left. He was the son of Alpharey, and by the family of classes - Mytarem, that is, a collector of taxes. One day, when Matthew was engaged in collecting taxes, Jesus passed by, and a whole crowd gathered behind him, having learned his teaching with his thirst. The Lord turned his eyes to Matthew and told him: "Follow me!" Mytar immediately rose and went for Jesus, not a minute without a minute and not even looking back to the place that left.

Matthew made a big feast on whom Jesus with students, as well as a lot of solaries and sinners. Since the Pharisees were outraged by this circumstance, the Savior said to them: "Not healthy have a need for a doctor, but patients; I came to call on the righteous, but sinners to repentance "(Luke 5: 31-32; Wed: MF. 9: 13; MK. 2: 17).

Accompanying Christ across Palestine, Matthew witnessed his teachings and miracles both before the crucifixion and after the resurrection. On the day of Pentecost, turning along with other apostles of grace of the Holy Spirit, Matthew was sent to preach the good news to the Jews compatriots. Therefore, after eight years after the Ascension, he was the first to write the gospel - the statement of the exercise and acts of the Savior, intended to peoples, to which this teaching did not come orally. It is believed that several years later this gospel translated into greek language St. Jacob, the first Jerusalem bishop, and rewrote it to the Apostle Bartholomew. Soon, this Greek version completely supposed the original Aramaic text that did not reach the present day in any copy.

Later, the apostle Matthew went with the sermon of the Good News in the Earth of Parfyan, where many misadventures have undergone. After that, he went to Jerapol, on the shores of Euphrates. There he managed to serve to turn many idolatry in faith. Having achieved a reference age, the apostle departed to the Lord.

According to another legend, after Parfyan and Midyan, opposed by the truth, were very bad with the Holy Apostle, he retired high in the mountains. In full solitude, he devoted his days ascetic and spiritual contemplation.

In the mountains, he was the Lord in the image of a child and handed the stick, the belieled to plant her near the Church of the city of Mirmen.

Bishop Mirmensky Plato, along with the clergy, solemnly met Matthew. As soon as the apostle put a stick to the ground, she launched sprouts, and then the fruits appeared, of which the delicious honey was sought - as a sample of paradise. In addition, the foot of the tree scored a refreshing source, and everyone who divered into it, went out from passions and darkness of paganism.

Despite all the good things made by Matthew for Parfyan and even for the most royal family, Tsar Fulwian subjected the apostle to cruel torture, and then sentenced to burn. However, later Tyran still appealed to faith thanks to many wonders that occurred from the saints of the apostle. When the king was baptized, he demanded to mash his matfey. The newly minted mining of all pagan idols in his kingdom and led the whole people to faith. When Bishop Plato died, the king was renounced the throne in favor of his son, and he himself became a bishop, as the Holy Apostle Matthew predicted.

Such a Parthian Tsar did not exist. Probably, we are dealing with a distortion name of some of the vassal kings who rules within the Parthian Empire.

). He was Motarem, that is, the college of filters for Rome, because the Jews were ruled by the Roman Empire. He lived in the Galilee city of Capernaum. Matthew, having heard the voice of Jesus Christ: "Go after me" (), left his position and went for the Savior. Christ and his disciples did not reject the invitation of Matthew and visited his house, where they divided the meal with friends and familiar Mytar - the same as the owner, sooters and sinners. This event extremely struck the Pharisees and scribes. Mytari, collecting grants with tribesmen, did it with great benefits for themselves. People are korestolobiyi and cruel, they were considered from Jews for traitors and traitors of the Motherland and Religion. The word "Mytar" sounded for Jews as well as the words "sinner" and "idolatry". Talking with the collector of the filings was considered a sin, to communicate with him - desecration. But the Jewish teachers could not understand that the Lord "came to call no righteous people, but sinners to repentance" ().

Matthew, realizing his sins, reimbursed the four-way those who had previously believed, distributed his estate with the rest and together with other apostles followed Christ. Holy Matthew did not listen to the instructions of the Divine Teacher, saw his countless miracles, went along with 12 apostles with a sermon to the "dead sheep at the house of Israel" (), witnessed the sufferings, death and resurrection of the Savior and the glorious ascension to the sky.

Having perceived the gracious gifts of the Holy Spirit, who came down on the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Matthew at the beginning of 8 years preached in Palestine. Before departing to the sermon in distant countries, at the request of the Jews, who remained in Jerusalem, the Holy Apostle Matthew captured the Earth's life of the Savior of the world in the Gospel of the Savior of the world - God of Jesus Christ and his teaching.

In a number of books of the New Testament, the Gospel from Matthew is first. The place of writing the gospel is called Palestine. The gospel is written by the Holy Matthele in the 42nd year (in Christmas, Christ) on the modern Jewish language and translated into Greek. The Jewish text has not reached us, but many linguistic and cultural and historical features of the Greek translation of the text are reminded of it.

The apostle Matthew preached among the people who had well-defined religious ideas about the Messiah. His gospel is a bright proof that Jesus Christ is a genuine Messiah predicted by the prophets, and there will be no other (). The speech and acts of the Savior of the Evangelist sets out in three sections corresponding to the three parties to the Messiah: as a prophet and legislator (), the king over the world visible and invisible () and the high priest, bringing the sacrifice for the sins of all people (). Theological content of the Gospel, besides the Christological topic, also includes the doctrine of the kingdom of God and about the Church that the Lord sets out in the parables of inner readiness for entering the kingdom (), the dignity of the ministers of the kingdom in the world (), on signs of the kingdom and its increasing souls Human (), on the humility and simplicity of the heirs of the kingdom (; 1;;), about the eschatological disclosure of the kingdom in the second coming of Christ and in the daily spiritual life of the Church (). The kingdom of heaven and the church are closely conjugate in spiritual experience of Christianity: the church is the historical embodiment of the kingdom of heaven in the world, and the kingdom of Heaven is the Church of Christ in its eschatological perfection (;)

The Holy Apostle Matthew bypassed Syria, Lydia, Persia, Parphy, having completed his preaching leads to the martyrdom in Efiii. This country was populated by the tribes of cannibals with rude customs and beliefs. The Holy Apostle Matthew his preaching here was gone here several idolaters to faith in Christ, founded the church and built the temple in the city of Mirmen and put in it a bishop of his companion named Plato.

When the Holy Apostle diligently asked God for the appeal of the Efiopes, during the prayer the Lord himself was in the image of the young man and, giving a rod, commanded to hoist him at the door of the temple. The Lord said that a tree would grow from this rod and fruits will be fruitful, and the water source will expire from the root. I am moving in water and tasted the fruits, the Efiops will change their wild temper and become good and krobrov. When the Holy Apostle was rod to the temple, he met his wife and son of the ruler of this country Fulwiana, obsessed with an unclean spirit. Holy Apostle name Jesus Christ healed them. This miracle refer to the Lord many more pagans. But the Lord did not want his subjects to become Christians and stopped worshiping the pagan gods. He accused the apostle in witchcraft and ordered him to execute him. The Holy Matthew put down face down, fell asleep with a twig and set fire. When the fire broke out, then everyone saw that the fire would not harm the Holy Matthew. Then Fulwian ordered to add twigs to the bonfire, the obulation of his resin, and there were 12 idols around the fire. But the flame melted idols and Opalilo Fulwiana. The frightened Efiop appealed to the saint with a prayer for mercy, and, on the prayer of the martyr, the flames lay down. The body of the Holy Apostle remains unharmed, and he departed to the Lord († 60).

The ruler Fulwian Gorkly repented in the deed, but did not leave his doubt. By his order, the body of St. Matthew was put in the iron coffin and threw in the sea. At the same time, Fulwian said that if God of Matheheyev retains the body of the apostle in water, as he retained it on fire, then it should be worshiped by this one, the true God.

On the same night, the bishop of Platon in a sleepy vision appeared the apostle Matthew, commanded him to go with the clich to the seashore and find his body there. Together with the bishop on the seashore, the ruler Fulwian came to the sea with his retinue. The coffin's wave made with honor moved to the temple built by the apostle. Then Fulwian asked the Matthew of Forgiveness from the Holy Apostle, after which the Bishop Plato baptusily baptized him with the name Matthew, which gave him, obeying the command of God. Soon Saint Fulwian Matthew refused power and became the presbyter. At the death of the Bishop of Plato, he was the apostle Matthew and fascinated to head the Ethiopian church. Having accepted the bishoprosis, the Holy Matthew-Fulwian worked a lot in the preaching of the Words of God, continuing the case of his heavenly patron.

Icon painter
	Serbia. XIII. Ap. Matthew. Icon. Serbia. End XIII - the beginning of the XIV century. 105 x 56.5. Ohrid. Macedonia.

Holy Apostle and Evangelist Levie Matthew, Son Alpharey, lived in the Galilee city of Capernaum ( small town in Galilee on the North-West Bank of Gennisret Lake). He was a brother of another apostle, Jacob. He was a wealthy man and held the position of Mytar ( collector and taxes). Compatriots despised and alienated him, like all of him like. But Matthew, although he was a sinner, but at the same time was not only no worse, but much better than proudly proud of the Phariseev's foreign righteousness.

Publican - a person appointed by the Roman procurator for collecting devices with Jews ( in a modern sense - customs officer). Mytari usually took on the deposit of collecting these duties and used all sorts of measures to extract the greatest benefits. Like korestole-loving and arrogant agents of Romans, Mytari was considered Jews for traitors and traitors to their country and the Lord God. Sinner, pagan and mytar - they found the same thing; To speak, with them was worshiped by a sin, to treat them - the desecration, although among them were good and God-fearing people.

Pharisees - One of the sect of the Jewish, which appeared in the II and III century. to R.Kh. The name of the Pharisees (special, separated) received from the fact that they tried to distinguish themselves with jealousy to the law.

And here the Lord stopped on this, by all despised, Mytar his divine gaze. Once, during his stay in Kapernaum, the Lord left the city and went to the sea, accompanied by the people. On the shore, he saw the satellite (place of collecting duties and filings) Matthew. And he told him:

Follow me!

The vocation of the apostle Matthew

Hearing these words of the Lord not bodily only with hearing, but also hearty eyes, Mytar immediately stood out of his place and, leaving everything, followed Christ. Matthew did not think, was not surprised that the Great Teacher and the Wonderworker calls him, despicable Mytar; He wanted him with all his heart, and fortunally went for Christ. In joy, Matthew cooked his big treat in the house. The Lord did not reject an invitation and entered the house of Matthew. And gathered in Matthew's house many neighbors of his friends and acquaintances - all of the Mytari and sinners, - and rest at the table along with Jesus and his disciples. There was also some of the scribes and Pharisees.

Scribes Jews were called the people in general in the book business, somehow the scientists of Jews, who explained the law and publicly taught and instructed the people in the law, so-called rabbis and legislers; The laws involved in solving controversial issues, dubious cases and cases requiring knowledge of the law and practical experience; Pisss and notaries who served in synagogues and syndrinations. Scientists these Jews are presented in the New Testament and a special estate, different from the Pharisees; But at the same time, they are often connected to the Pharisees, and are delivered in touch with the bishops. Most of them were tied to one legend and, without understanding the spirit of the law, falsely interpreted him and were blind leaders of the people, hypocritically only by the fulfillment of the commandments of the head, for the sake of the glory of human, and landing on the other serious burden, which did not fulfill themselves.

Seeing that the Lord does not bend sinners and solaries, but will relax with them nearby, they Roptali and said his disciples: " How does he eat and drink with sooters and sinners?"And the Pharisees were looking for only the case of cropping in something of the Lord and condemned the Savior for a violation of the alleged thing that was written in Psalm:" Blessed husband who does not go to the advice of wicked«.

The Lord, having heard the words of them, told them: " Not healthy have a need for a doctor, but patients. I came to call no righteous, but sinners to repentance"(Matt. 9:13).

« See - says John Zlatoust, - as the Lord, from the words of Phariseev, withdraws the exact opposite conclusion. They put him in the guilt of communication with sooters, and he, on the contrary, says that the correction of such people has a very important, necessary and worthy of many praise.«

Matthew, realizing his sins, reimbursed the four-way those who had previously believed, distributed his estate with the rest and together with other apostles followed Christ.

Of all the twelve students, Levi Matthew was one of the most educated - not to take the officials. The profession of Matthew demanded the ability to speak and write both on the Aramaic and Greek, and perhaps in Latin. And followed by Christ, he diligently recorded his sayings, who later went on the basis of the Gospel of Matthew.

Holy Matthew ate in the instructions of the Divine Teacher, saw his countless miracles, went along with 12 apostles on Galilee and Judea with a sermon to the "dead sheep house of Israel" (MF. 10: 6), witnessed the sufferings, death and resurrection of the Savior and the glorious ascension On sky.

After the ascension of the Lord and the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, the Holy Matthew first preached in Palestine for 8 years. But the time came to disperse the apostles from Jerusalem in various peoples, to appeal them to the faith of Christ. To depart the Apostle from Jerusalem, Jerusalem Christians from Jews asked him to betray them for them by the writer and the teachings of Jesus Christ. To fulfill this requests expressed their consent and other, former at the time in Jerusalem, the apostles. And the Holy Matthew, fulfilling a common desire, wrote the Gospel, after 8 years on the Ascension of Christ.

Gospel from Matthew About 41 were written in R.Kh. This is the first holy book from all books of the New Testament and occupies, because there is first place between them. The place of writing the gospel is called Palestine. The gospel was written in Jewish, or on the Aramaic adverb, and translated into Greek.

It was intended originally for Palestinian Christians from Jews. The narratives in the Gospel of Matthews are aimed primarily to show that Jesus is a true Messiah, promised to the forefans of the Jewish people, and there will be no other (MF. 11: 3). Therefore, in the Gospel of Matthew more often than in other Gospels, events from the life of Christ with the Old Testament prophecies and transformations and from the entire history of Christ the Savior are elected narratives especially important and necessary for Jews. Therefore, the Gospel begins his Matthew of Matthew of the Messiah, as the son of Davidov and Abrahamov, showing that Jesus is not a spirit and not an angel, as some were considered some, but the flesh from the flesh of the Israeli people, the continuation of his history and the fulfillment of his promises to him.

This distinguishing feature of the Gospel of St. Matthew is expressed on his icons on which it is depicted along with an angel-like person, symbolically characterizing the features of his Gospel.

Sermon in Efiopia

We know about the further life of the Apostle itself from the church legend. After removing from Jerusalem, the Holy Apostle Matthew bypassed Syria, a mussel ( the current Iran.), Persia, Parphy, having completed its preachs of the martyrdom in Efiopia.

This country was populated by the tribes of cannibals with rude customs and beliefs. The Holy Apostle Matthew his sermon and numerous miracles here, he found several idolaters to faith in Christ, founded the church and built the temple in the city of Mirmen and put in it a bishop of his companion named Plato. He himself was asleep on the mountain stayed near her and was on her in the post, hardly praying to God for the appeal of that incorrect people. During the prayer, the Lord himself was in the image of the young man and, giving a rod, commanded to hoist him at the door of the temple. The Lord said that a tree would grow from this rod and fruits will be fruitful, and the water source will expire from the root. I am moving in water and tasted the fruits, the Efiops will change their wild temper and become good and krobrov.

Matthew, taking a rod from the hand of the Lord, came down from the mountain and went to the city to fulfill what he was ordered. The ruler of that city, the borders called Fulwian, the wife and son were obsessed with demons. Having met on the path of the apostle, they shook him with wild, threatening voices. Holy Apostle name Jesus Christ healed them. The healed bowed to the apostle and Krotko followed him.

Having learned about his arrival, Bishop Platon met him with the cram. Included in the city and approaching the church, the apostle Matthew did, as he was commanded: I watered this wand from the Lord, - and immediately, in sight of everyone, the wand became a great tree and there were beautiful fruits, large and sweet, and source Water has expired from the root. The whole city came out at such a miracle, and wearing the fruits of the tree and drank clean water. And the Holy Apostle Matthew, standing at a high location, preached the word of God in their tongue to those gathered. This miracle drew many pagans to the Lord.

Concent Apostle Matthew

Having learned about the happening, the local government-pagan, Fulwian, first pleased with the healing of his wife and son, but then, to learn Nezovsky, he was angry at the apostle for the fact that all the people comes to him, leaving his gods, and planned to destroy him. He accused the apostle in witchcraft and ordered him to execute him. The Holy Matthew stretched out face down on the ground, fell asleep with a twit and set on fire. When the fire broke out, then everyone saw that the fire would not harm the Holy Matthew. Seeing this, all the people came terrified from such a great miracle and praised the Apostle God. But Fulvian was even more angry. Not wanting to recognize in God's strength, which remained alive and intact from the fire of the preacher of Christ, he accused him of witchcraft. Fulwian ordered to bring even more than more firewood, branches and a twig, and holy Matthew to pour resin and light. In addition, around the fire, he put 12 gold idols, calling them to help, so that their Matthews could not get rid of the flame, and would see the ashes. But the flame melted idols like wax, and Ollilo Fulwiana. The frightened Efiop appealed to the saint with a prayer for mercy, and, according to the prayer of the apostle, the flame went down. His body remains unharmed. Fulwian repented in the deed and wanted to pull the holy of fire, but he, having created a prayer, "his soul betrayed his soul into God. According to legend, concent Apostle Matthew followed about 60 years by R. x.

Then Fulwian ordered to bring the Golden Ore and put the honest body of the apostle, intact with fire, and, to dress him into precious clothes, raised with his nobles and introduced into his palace. Although he repented, but he had not left his doubts. Because the body of St. Matthew was put in the iron coffin, tightly poured with tin and threw it into the sea. At the same time, Fulwian said that if God of Mathetheyev retains the body of the apostle from the sump in the water, as he retained it on fire, he is truly a single and almighty God and he should worship him.

On the same night, the bishop of Plato in a sleepy vision appeared the apostle Matthew, commanded him to go with the clich to the seashore and find it there his body, made on land. At the morning, the bishop, accompanied by many believers and the ruler of Fulwiana with his retinue, went to the shown place and found the iron ark with the relics of the Holy Apostle Matthew, as it was proclaimed in the vision. The coffin's wave made with honor moved to the temple built by the apostle. Then Fulwian asked the Matthew of Forgiveness from the Holy Apostle, after which the Bishop Plato baptusily baptized him with the name Matthew, which gave him, obeying the command of God. Soon Saint Fulwian Matthew refused power and became the presbyter. At the death of the Bishop of Plato, he was the apostle Matthew and fascinated to head the Ethiopian church. Having accepted the bishoprosis, the Holy Matthew-Fulwian worked a lot in the preaching of the Words of God, continuing the case of his heavenly patron.

Ethiopia - One of the African countries, where Christianity is the main religion. There already in the V century, the Bible was transferred to the local language. Ethiopian Christians are holy keep the memory of the apostle Matthew, their first evangelist.

Church of St. Apostle and Evangelist Matthew in Salrno (Italy)

Basilica San Matteo, Saluno (Italy)

The relics of the Holy Evangelist of the Apostle Matthew, according to legend, in the X century were in Lucania. With the Langobard Prince of Gosulfa I, they were solemnly transferred to Salerno (Italy), where for a thousand years already in the temple of San Matteo (Matteo, in Italian, Matthew). Over the past thousand years, the cathedral was repeatedly burned. Especially terrible were the fires of the XVI and XIX centuries, when the cathedral almost all burned down. But what is surprising - in all these fires, the holy relics of the apostle Matthew remained the holy relics.

Crypt - underground temple. It is kept here. Matthew

In Kripte (underground temple) - the relics of the Holy Apostle Matthew. Candles are standing on the tomb.

Tomb of the Holy Apostle Matthew

Apostle Matthew in Art

The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew has often been depicted on icons and works of art.

Bartolotski, Francesco. Apostle Matthew. Figure by Gr. (1591-1666).

Holy Matthew and Angel (Guido Reni. 1635-1640)

Three paintings from the life of the Apostle Brush Karavaggio belong to the outstanding masterpieces of painting.

Caravaggio. Apostle Matthew and Angel

The symbol of Matthew is an angel standing behind his back (first depicted a figure of a person, because the Gospel of Matthew begins with the genealogies of Christ as a person).

However, the apostle and evangelist Matthew and the Apostle Matthey should be distinguished (Lat. Matthias), since they are often confused. The Apostle Levie Matthew was called by one of the first, and Matthey - the last. The apostle Matthew (memory on August 9) in the lot took a place among the 12 apostles, instead of Juda Icyariot. Prior to that, he was one of the 70 students of Jesus.

Tropear, voice 3:
It is hard from the mint to the called Vladyka Christ, I will decide on the earth for goodness, this follows, the apostle feeled was, and the gospel of the Gospel of the village of Tregelsen: This is for the sake of honor to honor your honest memory, Matthee Godoglagoliv. Moth of the Milostivago God, yes sins leaving our souls.

Kondak, voice 4:
IHO IHO rejection, the truth of the IGU was pointed out, and the merchant was the merchant all-round, wealth brought, southerly from the height of wisdom: the Word's truth resurrected the opposite, and the souls have erected, writing an hour.

Life of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

Facts from the biography of the Holy Apostle and the Evangelist Matthew, which is also called the Levi Matthew or Levia Alfeyev, a little known. In history, his name arises from the moment Christ, seeing him sitting by the temple, as the Holy Evangelist Luka writes, ordered him to leave everything and follow him. Until now, Levi Matthew performed the duties of tax collectors in Galilee, the city of Kapernaum, the ruins of which were preserved and now, they are called Tel Gum.

Galilee was part of the Judea, and the Judea - the Roman province, where Judea Lyuto hated Roman pagans - enslavers. The Roman rulers understood that the obligations of the sootar would better entrust to a person who knows the territory, and the material capabilities of the population, and therefore hired to this ungrateful and unclean work of people from the local population.

The supply collector - always the guest in the house is uninvited and unwanted, and if it is a person from his own, he was considered a traitor among Jews, he became an outcast. They tried not to communicate with the sooters, did not call them to the table, in general, all sorts of intercourse with them were considered to be defiled by faith and put them in one row with severe sinners. Because, knocking out petas in favor of the Romans, the supplement collectors had to use cruel eyes even to those who were selected by the last, then respect, of course, they did not decrease. In addition, this occupation was not controlled, and among the solaries there were unclean on her hand: those that overestimated grants, putting the wrong surplus to his pocket.

However, there were those that went to it, because at all times the profession of tax collectors was very profitable, and among them were different people, including good and pure hearts. So the Levi Matthew was a man not poor: he had his own home, and a decent state, but his soul was not spoiled neither cruelty, nor excessively sober.

The Lord chooses a person to his service, looking at his heart. In Kapernahum, Christ created many miracles, and, being near the temple, Matthew heard his speech, and the soul of Mytar leanned towards the truths he heard about God. Therefore, it can be seen, the appeal of Christ to follow him was passed by Mytarem overnight and without doubt. He got up, left his mother (walle) in road dust with all means and followed the teacher.

The feeling of gratitude to the former Motar was great, and Matthew invited the Lord on the meal to his house, and he agreed. Jews, scribes and Pharisees, the main Jewish preachers and jealous of the Jewish faith, seeing how Jesus eats and drinks in the man's house, to whom everyone treated with squeamish contempt, began to condemn him. The answer of Christ is known from the Gospel - he said that they need not healthy, and sick, but he called them to learn what mercy is, but what is the victim, and told that he came to save the righteous, but sinners (MF. 9 ; 9-17).

It was the last meal of Levi Matthew in his home. After he stood, left everything and followed him to preach his doctrine until the end of his days. In his inconsequent follow-up for Christ, he was preaching, he saw Miracles, listened to his words together with the other first students, remembered them, he was with Christ to the very secret evening and take him, and the resurrection, and ascension. The memory of these days, on these events and sermons lay on the basis of the Gospel of Matthew - the first one we read, opening the New Testament. It is written at the request of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, when the Holy Apostle Matthew after the Holy Spirit is going to leave the city for the preaching of Christ.

The mapping feature of Matthew is that it is in detail the Christian genealogus, proving that Christ is the most true Messiah, about which all the Old Testament prophets, and about which is mentioned in all major events of the Old Testament. His gospel of the Holy Apostle Evangelist Matthew wrote in Jewish language, then it was translated into Greek, and the Jewish script no longer exists.

After graduating from the Scripture of the Gospel - the year of creating His historians suggest as the 41st from the Nativity of Christ, the Holy Apostle retired from Jerusalem to the sermon. He was left to appeal to faith a true fair part of Malaya Asia and part of Africa: he preached among Persian, Syrians, Parfyan, Midyan and other peoples who inhabited this territory.

He preached in Ethiopia, where the preaching of the teachings had a wonderful influence on the inhabitants, and many retreated from paganism, the offering of human victims of idols and turned into a true faith. He created a small church there, leaving it as a bishop to maintain and multiplying the faith of the satellite of his wanders of Plato. Once during a secluded prayer on Mount, which was nearby, the Holy Apostle was the Lord in the guise of a light young man. He filed a rod and ordered him to bring him to the city of Mirmen to hoist near the temple. In this city, then the rules of some fulvian, which translated from Latin means "red".

On the road to the city of Holy Apostle met his wife and son of the ruler Mirmen, and since they were obsessed with an evil spirit, then at the sight of the rod began to be shouting and shouting that the Holy Matthew goes to the city to destroy them. The Holy Apostle ascended the prayer to the Lord, and these two immediately healed and went along with the apostle.

Having come to the city, the Holy Apostle Matthew at the order of the Lord Waterzil was rod near the temple, and the rod immediately turned into a beautiful strong tree with attractive sweet fruits, and he lit up his pure stream from the roots. And many black inhabitants began to come to the temple to look at the miracle. They ate fruit from the tree, listening to the apostolic preaching, which was included in their hearts, like fertile food - into the body, and it was very similar to the teaching meadow with students. The special properties of these fruits of the Holy Apostle was also open in the vision, which was given to him when he got a wonderful rod. All those who believed immediately baptized in the miraculous waters of the source. Among the gathered near the temple were Fulviana's wife and son. Fulvian, having learned about it, he was angry and ordered to take the Holy Matthew in custody.

At night, the Holy Matthew himself was Christ himself and said that the apostle was waiting for torment, but he ordered him all the hopes to impose on him, because he himself would be uneaten with the holy Matthew. During morning prayer For the holy apostle, Matfey came four guardians to take it, but here the temple was shrouded in darkness, and such that they did not know how to get out of it, and returned with nothing. Fulvian was angry even more and again sent for the apostle guard, but now around the apostle, the light was not possible to look at which it was impossible. Warriors threw the weapons in fear and ran away.

Then Fulvian himself went to arrest the apostle, and barely approached him like land. Frightened, he began to ask the apostle to return his eyesight. Holy Matthew made a cross sign on him, and Fulvian again prosened.

However, hypocritical Fulvian clearly bodily, but not spiritually. He invited the Holy Matthew to his home allegedly to provide honors, and in the soul it was planted to kill him - he believed that all the wonders, created by the apostle, were not a manifestation of the will of God, but a sorcerence, and wanted to destroy Saint as Mag. Matthew, led by the Lord immediately read the thoughts of Fulviana and told him that he would fulfill everything that he had conceived, not a hypocritical, for saint is ready to endure all the flour in the name of the Lord.

Fulvian betrayed the Holy Matthew Matthew for fighter flour, but every time the apostle prayer took fire, in which the wax was melted, and the idols burned down - the subject of the worship of the pagans, and then the fire, from them came out, appealed to the fiery snake, which began to pursue Fulvian himself. That in horror dismisted the apostle to stop the snake, and was already ready and the apostle of honors himself, but Holy Matthew made a prayer and the Lord accepted him to himself.

The end of the Holy Apostle Matthew occurred at about 60 after the Nativity of Christ. Nowada, his remains are stored in Italy in the city of Salerno, whose patron saint is considered to be the Holy Apostle, they were transferred to about a century. In addition to the Orthodox Icons, his image was captured by the famous painter Renaissance Caravaggio.

What a miracle happened

Together with the pressing of the Holy Apostle Matthew Miracles, wondered by him, did not end. Despite everything, seen by Fulvian, and his defense against the fire snake, his soul was still full of doubt. He ordered to wear the remains of the saint in precious clothes, put them in a wrought iron ark, to pour a tin and throw in the sea, saying that if he who fenced the apostle from fire, would not allow his power to be drowned, then he, Fulvian, worship God, and with him everyone will be refused by faith in idols.

The next night, the Holy Matthew came in the vision of a friend and his disciple his bishop Platon and said that the bishop of the next morning went ashore to the east of the house of the ruler - it will be thrown out of the sea the ark with his relics. Plato did so.

When Fulvian found out about it, he also accompanied many came to the shore and saw the heavy ark thrown out of the waves. Here and he believed, and the people with him. Fulvian bowed to God, took Holy Baptism with the name Matthew, refused worldly life, began to live a church life and received the priestly san.

Meaning icon

In addition to the Saint Apostle Evangelist Matthew is a patron of those whose activities are related to finance, customs tax collecting, his image is reminded of the need to read the Holy Scriptures and, in particular, the New Testament. Matthew's gospel is different from others that there is especially emphasized by the relationship of Jesus with the people of Jews through the pedigree of Our Lady, indicating that it is he and there is a Messiah, the high priest according to the rank of MexielSedek, the son of Davidov and Avramova, whom the prophets did not know so Crucified their descendants. Therefore, often on the icons of the Holy Apostle Evangelist Matthew is depicted along with the young men, similar to Angel, is obviously a reminder of the vision, when the Holy Mortophy of the Lord in the youthful appearance handed a wonderful rod.

Memory holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew Performed by B. Orthodox church November 29, on a new style, as well as July 13, on the day of the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles.

New Testament about the apostle Matthee
Matthew was one of the twelve closest apostles Jesus Christ, who followed them in the last three years of his earthly life. The name of the apostle is mentioned in some New Testament books: in the Gospel of Luke and Mark, in the Book of Acts, as well as in the first Gospel, the author of which the Church considers the Saint Matthew himself. Sometimes in the gospel history, he is mentioned under the name of the Levia Alfeyev.
From the Gospel, it is known that Matthew was Mytarem, that is, the collector of filters and taxes in ancient Judea. This position was considered a very shameful among the Jews, since Mytari served as the Roman emperor and, thus, perceived as traitors of the Jewish people. In its Gospel, Matthew repeatedly emphasizes the genus of his classes to the calling by Christ that, as they believed, he did from special humility.
Tradition did not bring us any information about the continued life of the apostle Matthew. It is assumed that he preached after the Ascension of Christ in Ethiopia, where he accepted the martyrdom of about 60 years.

Gospel from Matthew
The author of the first gospel of the church legend calls the apostle Matthew. The time writing the book cannot be accurately installed, but most researchers lean towards the fact that it was created in the 40-50 years. This gospel was written initially in Hebrew, in contrast to all other New Testament books created in Greek.
The apostle Matthew addressed his book by the Jewish community, which brightly affected the theological features of his Gospel, the main topic of which was the idea that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messia, the arrival of which the prophets wrote. Matthew convinces its readers that Jesus was exactly those who expected Jewish society over the centuries. Matthews often use quotes from the Holy Scriptures to reinforce their thoughts about the messianic dignity of Jesus, as well as about his divine origin.
The most important part of the gospel narration is the Nagorny sermon with the commandments of bliss, in which Christ reveals the foundations of its moral teachings. It is believed that the main thoughts of Christianity are concentrated in Nagorny preaching, so this part of the Gospel of Matthew is the most important for believers.
The Gospel of Matthew also includes a large number of parables dedicated to the teachings of Jesus Christ about the Church as a person's path to salvation, as well as talking about the end of the world and his second coming. Many of the Proverbs recorded by Matthele are preserved only in his Gospel.

Icon painted images of the apostle Matthew
The first icons of the apostle Matthew appeared quite late, about the 7th century, and they were depressed by the Saint Starter with gray hair. Such an image remained for a long time in Byzantine art. As an evangelist, the Holy Apostle is depicted with attributes pointing to his writing activities that are a book or scroll in his hands. On some iconographic images, Matthew writes sitting at the table with a book and a pen in his hand and writing the words of the Angel standing in front of him, who dictates the apostle of the word of the Gospel.
The symbol of St. Matthew is an angel, because in his gospel he paid special attention to the awareness and execution of the prophecies about the Messianic ministry of the Son of God, which the Old Testament Prophets said, inspired by the Messengers of God, Angels.

Tropear, voice 3:
Diligently from the mint to the called Vladya Christ, I wonder for the earth by a person for goodness, this follows, the apostle elected was the essay and the gospel of the Gospel of the village of Vellegsen. This is for the sake of honor to honor your honest memory, Matthey Godogogoliviv, moths of the Milostivago God, yes sins Leaving will give our souls.

Kondak, voice 4:
National Igor rejected, the truth of the IGU attracted the ESI and was the merchant merchant all-round, wealth brought sigh from the height of wisdom. Onceworthy preached the Word's truth and disassembled by the soul, writing an hour.

Music:
The magnitude of the apostle of Christ Matthell / and honor the disease and the works of yours, // I smelled the Esi in the evidence of Christ.

Prayer:
Oh, the Pressenger Apostle Matthew, the soul for Christ who betrayed and the blood of the Blood to Furiously Favoror! We hear the hell of your prayer and frustration, the heart crushed now brings. Beha is a lawless darling, and that sake the troubles, I am a clouds, sank, barely, and you can't come to the wolf predatory, it is more likely to sharpen the legacy of God doringe. Oh, stronger! We have a gentleness of our gentlehiness, do not leave the spirit of us, but do not tell you the end of the LUVE of God, but with a strong intercession of your defense, yes, the Lord of all of us prayers for your sake, and you will destroy the handwriting of our immense sins, and however it will make it high The kingdoms and marriage of the Lamb of their own, hersal honor and glory, and thanksgiving and worship, forever. Amen.