San Matteo, apostolo ed evangelista

The Diocese of Milano honors St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist, noting his transition from a tax collector to a follower of Jesus. Known also as Levi, Matthew worked as a publican, a role that involved collecting taxes for the ruling authorities.

Jesus called Matthew to follow him during the early stages of his preaching in Galilee. Matthew responded by hosting a meal at his home for Jesus and a group of fellow tax collectors and sinners. This gathering drew criticism, prompting Jesus to declare that his mission was to call sinners rather than the righteous.

Church tradition identifies Matthew as the author of the first Gospel, which was originally written in Aramaic for the community in Palestine. His writing aims to show that Jesus is the Messiah who fulfills prophecies. In religious symbolism, Matthew is represented by a human figure and a book.