Icon of Saint Matthew the Evangelist (Illuminated Manuscript) (Vatopedi, 1340-41) – S96

Description

This colorful icon with its decorative border is from a 14th c. illuminated manuscript at Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos.  Saint Matthew is sitting composing his Gospel (originally written in Aramaic).  Saint Matthew, along with Saint James, was one of the two sons of Aphaeus who became two of the Twelve Apostles of Christ and spread His message over the world.  Saint Matthew, also known as Levi, was a hated tax-collector for the Romans, but left everything to follow Christ when called from the receipt of customs.

Saint Matthew preached to the Parthians and Medes, and finally in Ethiopia, where he converted the wife and son of an Ethiopian prince, who then sought to kill Saint Matthew.  The prince sent out soldiers to capture him, but they were blinded by a Heavenly light and so were unable to touch him.  The prince himself came out to capture him, but was blinded by the same light.    Saint Matthew healed him, but the hard-hearted prince still wished to kill him.  After Saint Matthew prayed,  he went to God.  Later this same prince was baptized Matthew and became a bishop and successor to Saint Matthew, showing the power of long-suffering love.

The icon is a companion to Saint John the Theologian’s (S65).