Before his conversion to Christ, Matthew served as a tax collector for Rome. When he heard the voice of Jesus Christ, "Follow me" (Matthew 9:9), he left his position and followed the Savior. At first, the Apostle Matthew preached in Palestine. Before leaving for distant lands, St. Matthew wrote the Gospel.

The Holy Apostle Matthew traveled with the gospel to Syria, Media, Persia and Parthia, ending his preaching labors with a martyr's death in Ethiopia. At that time, the country was inhabited by cannibal tribes. During the prayer for the conversion of the Ethiopians, the Lord Himself appeared to the apostle and, giving him a rod, ordered him to plant it at the door of the temple: a tree would grow out of the rod and bear fruit, and a spring of water would flow from its root. After bathing in the water and eating the fruits, the Ethiopians will change their wild disposition. On the way to the temple, the apostle met the wife and son of the ruler of this country, who were possessed by an unclean spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, the apostle healed them. The miracle converted many pagans to the Lord, but Lord Fulvian did not want his subjects to become Christians and accused the apostle of witchcraft. During the execution, the flames from the bonfire did not damage St. Matthew, but melted the idols and scorched Fulvian. The terrified Ethiopian turned to the saint with a plea for mercy, and at the prayer of the apostle, the flames subsided. The body of the holy apostle remained unharmed, and he departed to the Lord (60).

The ruler of Fulvian repented. but he did not leave his doubts. He ordered Matthew's body to be placed in an iron coffin and thrown into the sea: if Matthew's God preserves the apostle's body in water, as he preserved it in fire, then this One True God should be worshipped.

The coffin carried out by the wave was honorably transferred to the temple built by the apostle. Fulvian asked Matthew for forgiveness. Bishop Plato baptized him with the name Matthew. Over time, Fulvian accepted the bishopric and continued the work of educating his people.