According to the Acts of the Apostles, chosen by God through the apostles to replace Judas Iscariot following the latter’s betrayal of Jesus and his subsequent death. His calling as an apostle is unique, in that his appointment was not made personally by Jesus (who had already ascended into heaven), and it came before the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the early Church.

There is no mention of a Matthias among the lists of disciples or followers of Jesus in the three synoptic gospels, but according to Acts, he had been with Jesus from his baptism by John the Baptist until Jesus’ Ascension. In the days following, Peter proposed that the assembled disciples, who numbered about 120, nominate two men to replace Judas. 

So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.”(Acts 1:24-25)

No further information about Matthias is to be found in the canonical New Testament.

All information concerning the ministry and death of Matthias is vague and contradictory. The tradition of the Greeks says that St. Matthias spread Christianity around Cappadocia and on the coasts of the Caspian Sea.  According to the historian Nicephorus, Matthias first preached the Gospel in Judaea, then what is modern-day Georgia. There he was crucified. A book known as the Coptic Acts of Andrew and Matthias, places his activity similarly in the modern Georgian region of Adjara where Matthias is buried.

Another tradition maintains that Matthias was stoned at Jerusalem by the local populace, and then was beheaded. According to Hippolytus of Rome, Matthias died of old age in Jerusalem.

An empty church in Heerlen, Netherlands, is set to receive a second life, with plans underway to convert the vacant building into a public swimming pool called Holy Water. The St. Francis of Assisi Church was last used as a space for religious activity in 2023, and Dutch architecture firms MVRDV and Zecc Architecten were tapped to design the renovation of the building. The plans will preserve the church’s historic features while giving it a new way to serve the community.

The project’s website says: “A swimming pool will be added to the nave, and current designs show the pool with an adjustable flooring to create different depths. If raised all the way for special events, the floor will hold a shallow layer of water to create the illusion of walking on water while reflecting the interior of the church.”

In the United States, the Catholic Church learned to remove all religious elements of a church once it is deconsecrated. There were stories of an early sale of a church in Portland where the the space was turned into a night club and the confessionals become “phone booths.” Could be apocryphal, but it is something to consider.

One person speculated that the pews would become pool-side benches, the ambo/pulpit a lifeguard stand, the confessionals changing booths, and the list went on.

It is sad that the facility is not longer needed or maintained as a church. But as a former competitive swimmer….