St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist

St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist

October 10th is the commemoration of the dhukrono of St. Matthew the Apostle according to the liturgical calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Commemorated today for the sake of breastfeeding mothers. St. Matthew, one of the twelve Apostles, is the author of the first Gospel. This has been the constant tradition of the Church and is confirmed by the Gospel itself. He was the son of Alpheus & was called to be an Apostle while sitting in the tax collector’s place at Capernaum. Before his conversation he was a publican, ie., a tax collector by profession. He is to be identified with the “Levi” in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. St. Matthew can be considered as the prototype of a sinner saved by the grace of Christ. He was a tax collector, despised by the Jewish people for collaborating with the Roman Empire. Yet our Lord chose him to be among His Holy Apostles saying to those who questioned His choice, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Mark 2:17 KJV The Holy Bible readings for the Feast of an Apostle according to Church Lectionary are as follows: Evening: St. Matthew 9: 35 - 10: 10 Morning: St. Matthew 19: 27 - 30 Before Holy Qurbono: Genesis 12 : 1 - 9 Daniel 1: 8 - 21 Isaiah 43: 1 - 7 Holy Qurbono: Acts 1: 12 - 14 I Corinthians 12: 28 - 13: 10 St. Luke 6: 12 - 23 https://urhotheway.com/2021/02/28/st-matthew-the-apostle/ Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX