Matthew was born in Capernaum, and was working as a tax-collector when Jesus called him. He is thought by some scholars to have written and early version of his Gospel in Aramaic, a precursor to the Greek version we now have. He is also said to have preached in the East. Tradition differs as to the sense of his missions and as to whether he died a natural death or a martyr’s. His relics were reputedly discovered in Salerno (Italy) in 1080. His symbol is an angel, and he is a patron saint of tax collectors and accountants.
