Site logo

The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world


Name

Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

Saint ID

S00791

Number in BH

BHG 1224-1228
BHL 5689-5694

Gender
Male
Type of Saint
Twelve Apostles and Paul, Evangelists, Martyrs
Related Evidence Records
IDTitle
E01327Greek inscriptions from the present-day monastic church of St Spyridon at Trimythous (central-east Cyprus) with references to a Sphyridon 'of holy memory', just possibly Spyridon (bishop of Trimythous, ob. 348, S00790), and *Matthew the Evangelist (S00791). A room dedicated to unnamed holy (hagioi) bishops is also mentioned. Probably 4th c. and later.
E01338The church of Panagia Kanakaria at Lythrankomi (north-eastern Cyprus) houses a mosaic with depictions of Christ, *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), unnamed *Archangels (almost certainly *Michael, S00181, and *Gabriel, S00192), and with labelled depictions of *Apostles and *Evangelists. Probably 525-550.
E02744The Latin decrees of a synod, held in 499 in St Peter's basilica, Rome, by Pope Symmachus (498-514), are subscribed to by a number of presbyters of the city's titular churches, each identified by the name of his titulus, a few of which are dedicated to saints; preserved as Symmachus Letter 1.
E03193The early seventh-century Georgian version of the Lectionary of Jerusalem commemorates on 12 June the Evangelists *Matthew (S00791), *Mark (S00293), *Luke (S00442) and *John (S00042).
E03360The early seventh-century Georgian version of the Lectionary of Jerusalem commemorates on 24 August *Philip (the Apostle, S00109), *Thomas (the Apostle, S00199), *Bartholomew (the Apostle, S00256), *Matthew (the Apostle, S00791).
E03563Three fragmentary Greek homilies of the 5th or 6th centuries, attributed to Cyril of Alexandria, refer to the translation of the relics of *Kyros and Ioannes/Cyrus and John (physician and soldier, martyrs of Egypt, S00406) from the shrine of *Mark (the Evangelist, S00293) in Alexandria to the church of the Evangelists at the monastery of Metanoia, between Kanopos and Menuthis (Lower Egypt). The author refers to the story of the martyrs and the identification of their relics. The new shrine (martyrion) aims at preventing the locals from visiting pagan shrines for healing.
E03842The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 24 August *Philip (the Apostle, S00109), *Thomas (the Apostle, S00199), *Bartholomew (the Apostle, S00256), *Matthew (the Apostle, S00791), the *Three Hebrew Youths (of the Old Testament Book of Daniel, S01198), and *Tatianos/Tatios (martyr in Claudiopolis under Diocletian, S01791).
E03928The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 16 November *Justinian (Roman emperor, ob. 565, S01572), *Philip (the Apostle, S00109), and *Matthew (Apostle and Evangelist, S00791).
E03933The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 21 November *Philemon (probably the martyr of Antinoopolis, S00386), *Matthew (Apostle and Evangelist, S00791), *Akakios (probably the soldier and martyr of Byzantion, S00468), and *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033).
E04767Paulinus of Nola, in many of his fourteen poems (the Natalicia) written in honour of *Felix (priest and confessor of Nola, S00000), identifies Felix as the special protector (patronus) of Nola (southern Italy); the similar role of other saints, in other regions, is detailed in Natalicium 11. Written in Latin, in Spain and later Nola, between 395 and 408.
E04962The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 20 September.
E04963The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 21 September.
E04979The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 7 October.
E05813Agnellus of Ravenna, in his Liber Pontificalis Ecclesiae Ravennatis, written in Latin, quotes a 6th c. Latin inscription from a monasterium dedicated to *Matthew (Apostle and Evangelist, S00791). He claims this monasterium and another, dedicated to *James (the Apostle, son of Zebedee, S00108), were founded in Classe (near Ravenna, northern Italy) in 557/570. Account written in Ravenna in 830/846.
E05859The Calendar of Willibrord, in its earliest version, records the feasts of various saints in September. Written in Latin at Echternach, Frisia (north-east Gaul), 703/710.
E05950Mosaic roundels on the barrel vaults of the Cappella Arcivescovile of Ravenna (northern Italy), with portrait busts of twelve apostles and twelve martyrs (six female, six male); created 494/520.
E06047Mosaics in San Vitale, Ravenna (northern Italy), depicting *Vitalis (soldier and martyr of Ravenna, S02826), and busts of the *Apostles and *Gervasius and Protasius (brothers and martyrs of Milan, S00313); created c. 549.
E06048Mosaics from the 6th c. depicting Apollinaris (bishop and martyr of Ravenna, S00331), *Michael (the Archangel, S00181), *Gabriel (the Archangel, S00192), *Matthew (the Apostle and Evangelist), possibly *Peter (the Apostle, S00036) and several holy bishops of Ravenna in Sant'Apollinare in Classe (near Ravenna, northern Italy), datable 533/549.
E06245Venantius Fortunatus, in a poem on virginity (8.3), when describing the court of heaven lists numerous saints with the cities of their resting-place. Written in Latin in Gaul, probably in the early 570s.
E06928Aldhelm, in his poem On the Altars of the Twelve Apostles, records the dedication of an altar to *Matthew (Apostle and Evagelist, S00791), presumably in Britain. Written in Latin in southern Britain, c. 670/710.
E07748List of relics and diptych from the monastery of the Holy *Apostles (S02422) and *Martyrs (S02818) at Arles (southern Gaul), giving the names of saints whose relics were deposited in the monastery and the people for whom prayers were to be offered in the liturgy. The list contains the names of all the Apostles, as well as *Mary (mother of Christ, S00033), *John the Baptist (S00020), and *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030), together with four Gallic martyrs, *Genesius (martyr of Arles, S00263), *Symphorianus (martyr of Autun, S00322), *Baudilius (martyr of Nîmes, S00383), and *Victor (martyr of Marseille, S00382), and three Gallic bishops, *Hilary (bishop of Poitiers, ob. 367, S00183), *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), and *Caesarius (bishop of Arles, ob. 542, S00491). Written in Latin at Arles, in 600/650.
E08075Three relic labels at the monastery of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune (south-east Gaul), datable by their script to the late 6th/earlier 7th c., for relics of various saints. Written in Latin, either where the relics originated, or at Saint-Maurice d'Agaune.
E08323The Hibernensis canon law collection's 48th book, 'On Martyrs,' quotes a number of unidentified sayings and precedents concerning martyrs, the translation of their relics, and their powers after death, including some falsely attributed to patristic authorities. Compiled in Latin in Ireland and/or Iona (north-west Britain), c. 690/748.
E08343The coffin of *Cuthbert (bishop and anchorite of Lindisfarne, ob. 687, S01955) is constructed of oak and decorated with images of the archangels, apostles, evangelists and *Mary (mother of Christ, S00033), whose names are inscribed in Latin (some with runic letters). Made for the saint's translation at Lindisfarne, 698.
E08570Mosaic of Christ flanked by the twelve *Apostles (S02422), on the triumphal arch over the central apse of the basilica of Eufrasius at Poreč (ancient Parentium) on Istria. Datable to the mid-6th c.