Saint Matthew the Hermit (Arabic: القديس مار متى الناسك; Syriac: ܡܪܝ ܡܬܝ Mor Mattai) was a 4th-century Christian priest.
[1] Upon the ascension of Emperor Julian the Apostate in 361, and subsequent persecution of Christianity, Matthew and other monks fled to the Sasanian Empire, and took up residence on Mount Alfaf.
[3] Having received a dream in which an angel instructed him to seek Matthew,[1] Behnam, son of King Sinharib of Assur,[4] met with the saint and discussed Christianity together.
[5] Aware of Matthew's reputation as a miracle-worker,[3] the prince requested he join him on his return to Assur and heal his sister Sarah of leprosy, to which he agreed.
Sinharib discovered his children's conversion and the group suffered martyrdom as they attempted to flee to Matthew on Mount Alfaf.