Matthew

Saint Matthew (also called Matthias) lived in the ninth century and was the helper of Saint Athanasia.

When Athanasia decided to withdraw to a quiet place for the monastic life, Matthew was her support. He brought the ascetic women what they needed, bought from the sale of the venerable woman's handiwork. A man with all his joints paralysed came to him. The venerable was moved with compassion, took off his mantle and placed it on the sick man's shoulders. The man's bones creaked terribly and he was healed at once. Another, whose face was distorted by the work of the devil, he marked with the sign of the Cross and gave healing.

After shining with miracles and signs in the place of quiet and struggle, he fell asleep in peace. He is commemorated on 18 April, according to the calendar of the Church of Greece (new style), on the same day as Saint Athanasia.