ST. MATTHIAS (FEB. 24TH)

St. Matthias, the 13th Apostle

By Bp. Joseph Boyd 

On the 24th of February, we celebrate the memory of St. Matthias, the first Apostle chosen by Council for the episcopal ministry, after Christ’s resurrection and ascension into heaven. The election and ordination of St. Mathias established the precedent for the episcopal office within the Church, which functions in Apostolic Succession and submission to the Councils of the Church, flowing down to us by the laying on of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit. 

In Acts 1:23-26 it says - “And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

St. Clement of Alexandria, in his Stromateis (vi.13), says about St. Matthias - "Not that they became apostles through being chosen for some distinguished peculiarity of nature, since also Judas was chosen along with them. But they were capable of becoming apostles on being chosen by Him who foresees even ultimate issues. Matthias, accordingly, who was not chosen along with them, on showing himself worthy of becoming an apostle, is substituted for Judas."

COLLECT

ALMIGHTY GOD, who assigned Saint Matthias a place in the Synod of the Holy Apostles, grant us, through his intercession, that, rejoicing at how Thy love hast been allotted to us, we may be numbered with the Saints of Thy Church. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.