Saint Matthew icon, the Holy Apostle and Evangelist. Orthodox Christian Icon

Saint Matthew icon, the Holy Apostle and Evangelist. Orthodox Christian Icon

13th century. Macedonia. Now located in the icon gallery of Ohrid, Macedonia

Saint Apostle Matthew (Levi) was the brother of Apostle James Alphaeus

He was one of the twelve apostles. Before his conversion to Christ, Matthew served as a publican, a tax collector for Rome. Hearing the voice of Jesus Christ: "Follow Me" (Matthew 9:9), he left his position and followed the Savior. Having received the gracious gifts of the Holy Spirit, Apostle Matthew first preached in Palestine. Before leaving to preach in distant lands, at the request of the Jews who remained in Jerusalem, the apostle wrote the Gospel. In the series of books of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew stands first. It is written in Hebrew. Matthew sets forth the speeches and deeds of the Savior in accordance with the three sides of Christ's ministry: as Prophet and Lawgiver, King over the invisible and visible world, and High Priest, Bringing Sacrifice for the sins of all people.

The Holy Apostle Matthew went around Syria, Media, Persia, and Parthia with the gospel, ending his preaching labors with a martyr's death in Ethiopia. This country was inhabited by cannibal tribes with crude customs and beliefs. The Holy Apostle Matthew converted several idolaters to faith in Christ with his preaching here, founded the Church and built a temple in the city of Mirmena, and appointed his companion Plato as bishop.

When the Apostle earnestly prayed to God for the conversion of the Ethiopians, the Lord Himself appeared to him in the form of a young man during his prayer and, giving him a staff, commanded him to erect it at the doors of the temple. The Lord said that a tree would grow from this staff and bear fruit, and a spring of water would flow from its roots. Having washed in the water and tasted the fruit, the Ethiopians would change their wild nature and become kind and meek. When the apostle carried the staff to the temple, he met the wife and son of the ruler of this country, Fulvian, who were possessed by an unclean spirit. The holy apostle healed them in the name of Jesus Christ. This miracle converted many more pagans to the Lord. But the ruler did not want his subjects to become Christians and stop worshiping pagan gods. He accused the apostle of witchcraft and ordered his execution. Saint Matthew was laid face down, covered with brushwood and set on fire. When the fire flared up, everyone saw that the fire did not harm Saint Matthew. Then Fulvian ordered that brushwood be added to the fire, doused with resin and twelve idols placed around it. But the flames melted the idols and scorched Fulvian. The frightened Ethiopian turned to the saint with a plea for mercy, and by the prayer of the apostle the flames died down.

The body of the holy apostle remained unharmed, and he departed to the Lord (60). The ruler Fulvian bitterly repented of what he had done, but did not abandon his doubts. He ordered that the body of Saint Matthew be placed in an iron coffin and thrown into the sea. At the same time, Fulvian said that if the God of Matthew preserves the body of the apostle in the water, as he preserved it in the fire, then one should worship this One True God. That same night, the Apostle Matthew appeared to Bishop Plato in a dream and commanded him to go with the clergy to the seashore and find his body there. Fulvian and his retinue also came to the shore. The coffin carried away by the waves was honorably transferred to the temple built by the apostle. Then Fulvian asked Matthew for forgiveness, after which Bishop Plato baptized him with the name Matthew, which he gave him by the command of God. Fulvian subsequently accepted the bishopric and continued the work of enlightening his people.

📏 Size: 14x30 cm (6"x12")

🖼 Product Features

• Crafted on a premium wood icon panel
• Rich mineral pigment colors designed to last
• Protected with natural beeswax finish
• Ready to hang — metal hook included
• Hand-finished by Orthodox Christian artisans
• Solid yet lightweight panel, 1.6 cm thick

🎁 Perfect For

• Meaningful Orthodox Christian gifts
• Housewarming and family blessings
• Prayer corners and devotional spaces
• Baptisms, name days, weddings, and feast days

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