Feast of St. Matthias
The Feast of St. Matthias commemorates the apostle chosen to succeed Judas Iscariot after his betrayal of Jesus Christ. This feast is celebrated on August 9 by Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches, while Roman Catholics observe it on May 14, a date selected to avoid conflicts with Lent and align it with Eastertide. In the Episcopal and Lutheran traditions, the original date of February 24 is maintained, with a shift to February 25 during leap years. The selection of Matthias as the 12th apostle, described in the New Testament's Acts of the Apostles, occurred after Jesus' Ascension when the apostles sought a replacement through a casting of lots. Little is definitively known about Matthias after his selection, but traditions suggest he preached in Judea and Colchis, ultimately facing martyrdom. Various accounts of his death exist, including being stoned, beheaded, or crucified. His remains are believed to have been transferred to Rome by St. Helen, further solidifying his significance in Christian heritage.
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Feast of St. Matthias
Feast of St. Matthias
The Feast of St. Matthias, who was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot as one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ after Judas had betrayed his master, is marked on August 9 by Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches. It was commemorated by Roman Catholics on February 24 until the revision of their calendar. The celebration was then moved to May 14 to avoid having it fall in Lent and to place it in Eastertide, close to Ascension Day. The original date is still kept by the Episcopal and Lutheran churches except in leap years, when it is observed on February 25. Eastern Christian Churches, however, both Catholic and Orthodox, continue to honor St. Matthias on August 9.
St. Matthias was one of the original group of disciples during the life of Jesus. According to the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament, Matthias's selection as Judas's replacement took place after the Ascension of Jesus when some 120 of his disciples were gathered in Jerusalem for common prayer. At that time, the Apostle Peter explained the inevitability of the betrayal as a fulfillment of the prophecy of David and proposed that a successor to Judas be chosen. The selection was by lots, which fell in favor of Matthias, and he was appointed the 12th Apostle. Beyond this account of his selection, nothing certain is known about St. Matthias. According to one ancient tradition, he preached in Judea and then in the ancient country of Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, where he suffered a martyr's death. According to another legend, he was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded. Still a third tale holds that he was crucified and that his body was kept for a long time in Jerusalem until it was later transferred to Rome by St. Helen.