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[[Image:Hierarchs of Moscow.JPG|frame|right|Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Moscow]]Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Jonah''' (+ 1461?), also '''Jonas''', was the [[Metropolitan]] of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia (between 1448-and 1461). He is also called the Wonderworker. He was [[metropolitan]] during the times that the princes of Moscow gained influence and power at the same time the Church of Constantinople fell under the rule of the Ottoman Turks. The Church remembers him on [[March 31]] and [[June 15]], the [[Translation (relics)|translation]] of his relics on [[May 27]] and as a member of the [[Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Moscow]] on [[October 5]].

Saint Jonah was born in the city of Galich into a pious Christian family. The date of his birth is not known. His father was named Theodore. The youth received He was [[monastictonsure]] d as a [[tonsuremonastic]] in one of the Galich monasteries when he was only twelve years old. From there, he transferred to the Moscow Simonov monastery, where he fulfilled various obediences for many years.

In the late 1420s, Jonah had transferred to the [[Simonov Monastery (Moscow)|Simonov Monastery]], where he again fulfilled various obediences for many years. He was close to Metropolitan [[Photius of Kiev|Photius]], who would make consecrated him [[bishopBishop]] of Ryazan and Murom. After Photius's death died in 1431, Grand Prince Vasili II (the Sightless) nominated Jonah for the post position of metropolitan. Due to Vasili's war with the appanage princes, Jonah did not leave for [[Constantinoplemetropolitan]] until of Moscow, a position that required confirmation by the end Patriarch of 1435. The newly-elected metropolitan journeyed to Constantinople in order to be confirmed as metropolitan by , [[Joseph II of Constantinople|Patriarch Joseph II]]. Shortly before this Jonas was delayed in his journey to Constantinople until the end of 1435 by Vasili's war with the appanage princes In the nefarious meantime, Isidore, a Bulgarian, of Kiev had already been established as Metropolitanof Moscow by the Ecumenical Patriarch. Spending a short time at Kiev After initially being accepted in Moscow and Moscowpromising Vasili to be true to Orthodoxy, Isidore journeyed traveled, in 1438, to Florence, Italy to attend the [[Council of Florence]] (1438). During the council, where he embraced Isidore supported [[Catholicism]]and the re-unification of the Eastern and Western Churches. After returning to Moscow, as a papal legate, he substituted in the liturgy the name of the Pope in place of the name of the Patriarch. He was arrested immediately, but escaped and fled to Rome, where he died in 1462. . After Isidore had been condemned by In 1443, a [[synod|council]] of Russian bishops condemned the union with Rome and deposed Isidore. [[hierarchArchbishop]]s and Jonah was again chosen Metropolitan. Jonah was consecrated, on [[clergyDecember 15]] , 1448, by Russian hierarchs in 1441Moscow, for his support ending administrative dependence of Catholicism and the reuniting Russian Church on Constantinople. This was the first time that Russian [[bishop]]s consecrated their own metropolitan. This signified establishment of [[autocephaly]] for the Russian Orthodox Church. Metr. Jonah received the Eastern and Western Churches, they deposed himPatriarch's approval only after Constantinople's collapse in 1453. In 1451, Jonah took under his control the [[see]] in Kiev and he was compelled to flee secretly to Rome, where he died in 1462its the Lithuanian [[diocese]].

St Jonah was unanimously chosen Metropolitan of All Russia. He was consecrated by Russian hierarchs in Moscow, with the blessing of Patriarch [[Gregory III of Constantinople|Gregory III]] (1445-1450) of Constantinople. Metropolitan Jonah received the patriarch's approval only after Constantinople's collapse in 1453. This was the first time that Russian bishops consecrated their own metropolitan. St Jonah became metropolitan on [[December 15]], 1448. This signified the establishment of the [[autocephaly]] of the Russian Orthdox Church. In 1451, Jonah took under his control the Lithuanian [[diocese]].  In 1451 the Tatars unexpectedly advanced on Moscow. Metr. Jonah led a procession along the walls of the city, petitioning God to save the city and the people. Seeing the dying [[monk]] Anthony of the Chudov monastery, who was noted for his virtuous life, St Jonah said, "My son and brother Anthony! Pray to the merciful God and the [[Theotokos|All-Pure Mother of God]] for the deliverance of the city and for all Orthodox Christians."

St Metr. Jonah reposed in the year 1461. In 1472, the incorrupt [[relics]] of Metr. Jonah were uncovered and miraculous healings began moved to take a place at his grave. Jonah was in the [[canonizationDormition Cathedral (Moscow Kremlin)|glorifiedDormition Cathedral]] in the Moscow Kremlin. In 1547, a local council of the Russian church established the commemoration of Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow, as a [[saint ]]. In 1596, St Jonah was added by Patriarch Job to the Synaxis of the Russian ChurchMoscow Hierarchs.

*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsLife.asp?FSID=100955 OCA -Repose of St Jonah the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia] – [.*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsLife.asp?FSID=101725 OCA- St Jonah the Metropolitan of Moscow]] web site ==References==*Bernard Pares, ''A History of Russia'', London, Jonathan Cape, 1955*Nicholas V.Riasanovsky, ''A History of Russia'', New York, Oxford University Press, 1977 

before=[[Isidore the Apostate]]|