St. Matthew

Patron of accountants, bankers, tax collectors, customs officers, civil servants.

Feast Day: September 21st

Martyr and Apostle

Capernaum, Galilee

Feast Day: September 21st

Martyr and Apostle

Capernaum, Galilee

About

Saint Matthew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the traditional author of the first Gospel in the New Testament. Before following Christ, he worked as a tax collector in Capernaum, a profession often despised by the Jewish people for its association with Roman oppression. When Jesus called him, Matthew left everything behind and followed immediately. His Gospel emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and was likely written for a Jewish-Christian audience.

Legacy

Saint Matthew’s legacy is immense as the writer of one of the four canonical Gospels, known for the Beatitudes and the Great Commission. His story demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy. As a former tax collector, his transformation into a devoted apostle is a powerful testimony of repentance and discipleship. Churches and cathedrals around the world bear his name, and his Gospel continues to guide Christian teaching and worship.

“Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. — Matthew 9:9