Saint Jonas
Encyclopedia
Saint Jonah or Saint Jonas (Иона in Russian
) (died 1461?), was the Metropolitan
of Moscow
from 1448 to his death in 1461. He was the first (independent) Metropolitan of Moscow and all Rus', having been appointed without the approval of the patriarch in Constantinople as was the norm.
Since the late 1420s, Jonah had been living in the Simonov Monastery
in Moscow and was close to Metropolitan Photius
, who make him Bishop
of Ryazan
and Murom
. After Photius's death in 1431, Grand Prince
Vasili II nominated Jonas for the post of Metropolitan, but the Patriarch of Constantinople
chose Isidore of Kiev
to become the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus'.
After Isidore
had been condemned by the Russian Orthodox Church
in 1441, for his support of Catholicism
and the union of the Eastern and Western Churches agreed upon at the Council of Florence-Ferrara
, the metropolitan throne sat vacant for seven years, and Jonah became Metropolitan only on December 15, 1448 without the consent of the Patriarch of Constantinople
. This signified the establishment of the autocephaly
of the Russian Orthodox Church.
He spent much of his tenure as the head of the Russian Church
opposing the union, including the Lithuanian metropoltianate that threatened to divide the province of Moscow and take the western portion, including the city of Novgorod, away and perhaps lead the western regions of orthodoxy to go over to Catholicism.
Jonah died on March 31, 1461 and was buried in the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Moscow Kremlin
. He was canonized
by Macarius
, the head of the Russian Church, at the Moscow Council of 1547. Ion Island
, an island in the Sea of Okhotsk
, was formerly named Ostrov Svyatovy Iony after him.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
) (died 1461?), was the Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
from 1448 to his death in 1461. He was the first (independent) Metropolitan of Moscow and all Rus', having been appointed without the approval of the patriarch in Constantinople as was the norm.
Since the late 1420s, Jonah had been living in the Simonov Monastery
Simonov Monastery
Simonov monastery in Moscow was established in 1370 by monk Feodor, a nephew and disciple of St Sergius of Radonezh.The monastery land formerly belonged to Simeon Khovrin, a boyar of Greek extraction and progenitor of the great clan of Golovins. He took monastic vows in the cloister under the name...
in Moscow and was close to Metropolitan Photius
Photius, Metropolitan of Moscow
Photius of Kiev , Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus', Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia, of Greek descent....
, who make him Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Ryazan
Ryazan
Ryazan is a city and the administrative center of Ryazan Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Oka River southeast of Moscow. Population: The strategic bomber base Dyagilevo is just west of the city, and the air base of Alexandrovo is to the southeast as is the Ryazan Turlatovo Airport...
and Murom
Murom
Murom is a historic city in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, which sprawls along the left bank of Oka River. Population: -History:In the 9th century CE, the city marked the easternmost settlement of the Eastern Slavs in the land of the Finno-Ugric people called Muromians. The Russian Primary Chronicle...
. After Photius's death in 1431, Grand Prince
Grand Prince
The title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns...
Vasili II nominated Jonas for the post of Metropolitan, but the Patriarch of Constantinople
Patriarch of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....
chose Isidore of Kiev
Isidore of Kiev
Isidore of Kiev, also known as Isidore of Thessalonica was a Greek Metropolitan of Kiev, cardinal, humanist, and theologian. He was one of the chief Eastern defenders of reunion at the time of the Council of Florence.-Early life:...
to become the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus'.
After Isidore
Isidore of Kiev
Isidore of Kiev, also known as Isidore of Thessalonica was a Greek Metropolitan of Kiev, cardinal, humanist, and theologian. He was one of the chief Eastern defenders of reunion at the time of the Council of Florence.-Early life:...
had been condemned by the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
in 1441, for his support of Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and the union of the Eastern and Western Churches agreed upon at the Council of Florence-Ferrara
Council of Florence
The Council of Florence was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It began in 1431 in Basel, Switzerland, and became known as the Council of Ferrara after its transfer to Ferrara was decreed by Pope Eugene IV, to convene in 1438...
, the metropolitan throne sat vacant for seven years, and Jonah became Metropolitan only on December 15, 1448 without the consent of the Patriarch of Constantinople
Patriarch of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....
. This signified the establishment of the autocephaly
Autocephaly
Autocephaly , in hierarchical Christian churches and especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, is the status of a hierarchical church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop...
of the Russian Orthodox Church.
He spent much of his tenure as the head of the Russian Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
opposing the union, including the Lithuanian metropoltianate that threatened to divide the province of Moscow and take the western portion, including the city of Novgorod, away and perhaps lead the western regions of orthodoxy to go over to Catholicism.
Jonah died on March 31, 1461 and was buried in the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Moscow Kremlin
Moscow Kremlin
The Moscow Kremlin , sometimes referred to as simply The Kremlin, is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River , Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square and the Alexander Garden...
. He was canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
by Macarius
Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow
Macarius was a notable Russian cleric, writer, and iconographer who served as the Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia from 1542 until 1563.-Early life and work on the Menaion:...
, the head of the Russian Church, at the Moscow Council of 1547. Ion Island
Ion Island
Iony Island , or Jonas' Island, formerly Ostrov Svyatogo Iony , is a small island in the Sea of Okhotsk. It is 1.6 km in length and 850 m wide and it has a conical shape....
, an island in the Sea of Okhotsk
Sea of Okhotsk
The Sea of Okhotsk is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, lying between the Kamchatka Peninsula on the east, the Kuril Islands on the southeast, the island of Hokkaidō to the far south, the island of Sakhalin along the west, and a long stretch of eastern Siberian coast along the west and...
, was formerly named Ostrov Svyatovy Iony after him.