Saint Matthew
The Apostle Orthodox Church
A parish of the Orthodox Church in America
Diocese of the South · Baton Rouge, Louisiana
All Are Welcome at Saint Matthew
The Orthodox Church was founded by our Lord Jesus Christ and is the living manifestation of His presence in the history of mankind. The Orthodox Church is evangelical, but not Protestant. It is Orthodox, but not Jewish. It is Catholic, but not Roman.
It isn't non-denominational — it is pre-denominational. It has believed, taught, preserved, defended and died for the Faith of the Apostles since the Day of Pentecost over 2,000 years ago.
Schedule of Services
Visitors are welcomed to all services. Come and experience the ancient beauty of Orthodox worship.
A Community Rooted in Faith
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." — Acts 2:42
Our parish is a warm and welcoming community. Many of our members came to Orthodoxy from other faith traditions. After Sunday Liturgy, all are invited to join us for coffee hour — a cherished pot-luck style fellowship meal that is "much more than coffee and usually more than an hour!"
Saint Matthew The Evangelist
Commemorated November 16
The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, son of Alphaeus, was a tax collector. When the Lord said, "Follow Me," Matthew left his tax booth and followed Him. After that, he prepared a reception for the Lord in his home and thus provided the occasion for the Lord to express several great truths about His coming to earth.
After receiving the Holy Spirit, the Holy Apostle preached the Gospel to the Parthians, Medes and Ethiopians. St. Matthew the Apostle wrote his Gospel in the Aramaic language. It was soon after translated into Greek and the Greek text has come down to us, while the Aramaic text has been lost.
It is said of this evangelist that he never ate meat, but only vegetables and fruit.
— Adapted from the Prologue of Ochrid