St Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, the Wonderworker (+1461)
Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, the Wonderworker, was born in the city of Galich, into a family of pious Christians. He was twelve when he went to a monastery. The saint laboured first in one of the monasteries of Galich, and then settled in the Simonov monastery in Moscow, where for many years he carried out various obediences. Once the Metropolitan of Moscow, Saint Photius (commemorated 27 May and 2 July), visited the Simonov monastery. After a service of supplication he blessed the archimandrite and his brethren, and wished to bless also the monks who were at that time carrying out various obediences. Going into the bakery, the hierarch saw Jonah, who, worn out by heavy work, had fallen asleep, with his right hand frozen in the gesture of blessing. Photius asked that the monk not be woken, blessed the sleeping man, and foretold that he would become a great luminary of the Russian Church and set many on the path of salvation. And indeed, a few years later the future saint was consecrated Bishop of Ryazan and Murom.
In 1431 the hierarch Photius died. Five years after his death, for his piety and holy life, Jonah was chosen Metropolitan of All Russia. When the newly elected metropolitan went to Joseph II, Patriarch of Constantinople (1416–1439), to have his rank confirmed, it turned out that the wise and cunning foreigner Isidore had already been appointed head of the Russian Church. Isidore spent a short time in Kiev and Moscow, and then set out for the Council of Florence (1438), where he supported the union. An assembly of Russian bishops and clergy deprived the unfaithful servant of Orthodoxy of his rank, and he was forced to flee to Rome (+1462). Saint Jonah was unanimously appointed helmsman of the Church of All Russia. He was the first metropolitan whose consecration was performed in Moscow by Russian hierarchs with the blessing of Gregory II, Patriarch of Constantinople (1445–1450). The holy father took up the government of his flock from 15 December 1448. In spite of bearing the heavy cross of the head of the Church, the saint did not relax his personal ascetic labours in the least. For all this the Lord granted His chosen one the gifts of wonderworking and foresight.
In 1451 the Tatars suddenly came up to Moscow, burned its surroundings, and prepared to attack the city. Metropolitan Jonah with the clergy was making a procession round the walls of Moscow, beseeching the Lord with tears to have mercy on the city and its inhabitants. Suddenly he noticed Antony, an aged monk of the Chudov monastery distinguished by his piety, and said to him: “My son and brother Antony! Pray to God and to the All-holy Virgin to save the city and all Orthodox Christians!” The humble monk answered: “Great master! Let us give thanks to the Lord and the Most Holy Mother of God: she has heard thy entreaty and interceded for us with her Son; by thy prayers the city and all Orthodox Christians will be saved; I alone am destined to die by the hand of the enemy.” As soon as he had finished these words an arrow pierced the God-pleaser. And on 2 July, the feast of the Deposition of the Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God, according to Father Antony’s prophecy, confusion broke out in the enemy’s ranks: they were seized by an unaccountable fear and, stricken with terror, fled headlong. In thanksgiving the hierarch Jonah built a church dedicated to the Deposition of the Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God.
The blessed father reposed on 31 March 1461. Many miraculous healings took place at his tomb. In 1472 the saint’s incorrupt relics were uncovered and translated to the Dormition cathedral in the Kremlin.
