The
Greek name “Matthias” means “gift of Yahweh”. All we know for certain
of Matthias is that he was chosen by the eleven apostles to replace the
traitor, Judas, after the Ascension of Jesus and before the descent of
the Holy Ghost on Pentecost, which makes St. Matthias the only apostle
not directly chosen by Our Lord.
According to the Acts of the
Apostles (1:15-26), after the Ascension, Peter stood up in the midst of
the brothers (120 of Christ’s disciples) and said: “…it is necessary
that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus
came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day
on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his
resurrection” Acts 1:21-22. So it is clear that Matthias had followed
Jesus since Our Lord's baptism by John in the Jordan.
For the
selection of the new twelfth apostle, after a prayer beseeching God to
guide them in His divine will, the eleven apostles cast lots between a
Joseph, called Barsabas, and Matthias. The lot fell on Matthias who took
his place among the first apostolic college.
According to
Nicephorus' Church history, Matthias first preached in Judea and then in
Ethiopia, where he was ultimately crucified.
Friday, May 14, 2021
St. Matthias the Apostle
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