Saint Matthias, Apostle

February 24 is the day the one holy Christian and apostolic Church commemorates Saint Matthias, Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ.

St. Matthias is one of the lesser-known apostles. According to the Early Church Fathers, Matthias was one of the seventy-two sent out by Jesus in Luke 10:1-20. After the ascension, Matthias was chosen by lot to fill the vacancy in the Twelve resulting from the death of Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:16-25). Early Church tradition places Matthias in a number of locations. Some historians suggest that he went to Ethiopia; others place him in Armenia, the first nation to adopt Christianity as a national religion. Martyred for his faith, Matthias may well have met his death at Colchis in Asia Minor, around AD 50. The Church of St. Matthias at Trier, Germany, claims the honor of being the final burial site for Matthias, the only one of the Twelve to be buried in Europe north of the Alps. [Source: Treasury of Daily Prayer]

Prayer of the Day:
Almighty God, You chose Your servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve. Grant that Your Church, ever preserved from false teachers, may be taught and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn:
For one in place of Judas,
     Th’ apostles sought God's choice;
The lot fell to Matthias
     For whom we now rejoice.
May we like true apostles
     Your holy Church defend,
And not betray our calling
     But serve You to the end. [LSB 517, stanza 13]