Matthias the Apostle


Matthias the Apostle
St Matthias by Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1611
Apostle and Martyr
Born1st century AD
Judaea, Roman Empire
Diedc. AD 80
Jerusalem, Judaea
or
Colchis
Venerated in
CanonizedPre-congregation
Feast
AttributesAxe, Christian martyrdom
PatronageAlcoholics; carpenters; tailors; Great Falls-Billings, Montana; Trier; smallpox; hope; perseverance

Matthias (/məˈθəs/; Koine Greek: Ματθίας, Matthías [maθˈθi.as], from Hebrew מַתִּתְיָהוּ Mattiṯyāhū; Coptic: ⲙⲁⲑⲓⲁⲥ; died c. AD 80) was, according to the Acts of the Apostles, chosen by God through the apostles to replace Judas Iscariot following the latter's betrayal of Jesus and his subsequent death.[1] His calling as an apostle is unique, in that his appointment was not made personally by Jesus (who had already ascended into heaven), and it came before the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the early Church.