Old Style Date: August 9. On this day, the memory of Matthias is celebrated—one of the disciples of Jesus Christ, who became an apostle in place of Judas Iscariot. In the Book of Acts, this saint's name is mentioned only once—in the account of Peter proposing to choose the twelfth apostle after Judas' betrayal. According to tradition, the choice between Matthias and Joseph Barsabbas was made by casting lots. Other information about Matthias comes from later sources. According to the life story compiled by Dimitry of Rostov, Matthias was born in Bethlehem and from an early age studied the Law of God under the guidance of Simeon the God-Receiver. Before being chosen among the Twelve Apostles, he was one of the 70 disciples of Christ. Later, along with the other apostles of the Twelve, he witnessed the descent of the Holy Spirit and then preached in Jerusalem and Judea. His life story attributes to him the gift of performing miracles, healing the sick, and casting out demons. Many times Matthias' life was in danger, but each time he miraculously escaped. However, one day, disaster caught up with him: the Sanhedrin condemned the preacher for spreading Christianity and sentenced him to death. According to some sources, the apostle was stoned to death, while others say he was crucified. In Russia, the day of Matthias (Matfei) was associated with a terrifying belief: allegedly, at this time, snakes would attach themselves to cow udders and suck out the milk (hence the saint's nickname). Therefore, cattle were kept from grazing, and special care was taken with all customs related to them. For example, housewives always tried to milk the cow alone to avoid the "evil eye" spoiling the cow. The milking pail was never placed on a chair or a tub, so the cow wouldn't lose its milk. From Matthias' day, the approach of autumn became evident; the air cooled, and clouds appeared more frequently in the sky. "Matthias brings the bad weather, summer rain turns into autumn rain," people observed.