Saint Matthias the Apostle

Life story

Matthias is named only in the Acts of the Apostles, in the passage about refilling the circle of the Twelve. After the death of Judas Iscariot, Peter set out the requirements: the new man had to have accompanied the apostles throughout Jesus's ministry, from the baptism by John to the day Jesus was taken up, and had to bear witness to the resurrection. Two candidates were put forward, Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias.

The community, about one hundred and twenty people, prayed and then cast lots, and Matthias was added to the eleven. After that he never appears again in the New Testament. Early Christian tradition, which Eusebius reports from Clement of Alexandria, places him among the seventy-two disciples and remembers him for a strict, ascetic way of life. Accounts of where he preached disagree: some name Judea, others Cappadocia or Ethiopia, and all of them are tradition only.

Tradition also says he died as a martyr, though again the manner and place differ from source to source. Later legend claimed that his relics were brought to the region of Trier, in present-day Germany, by Helena, mother of Constantine. St. Matthias Abbey in Trier keeps the tomb honoured as his, and it is often mentioned as one of very few places north of the Alps with the grave of an apostle. The Church keeps his feast on 14 May. His name has been given to many churches and communities over the centuries, though almost nothing beyond the account in Acts can be stated with certainty about his life.

Works and witness

• Accompanied Jesus from John's baptism onward, according to Acts
• Chosen by lot after prayer to replace Judas Iscariot
• Added to the eleven apostles
• By tradition, preached and died a martyr, but sources disagree on where
• St. Matthias Abbey in Trier honours the tomb held to be his

Saints from the same country

Saint Peter, Saint Andrew the Apostle, Saint James the Greater, Saint John the Apostle

References

• Tân Ước / New Testament (Acts of the Apostles 1)
• Martyrologium Romanum
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Historia Ecclesiastica

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.