The Monk Jonah the Presbyter, Father of Saints Theophanes the Composer of Canons

Commemorated on September 22

      The Monk Jonah the Presbyter, Father of Saints Theophanes the Composer of Canons (Comm. 11 October) and Theodore the Scribe (Comm. 27 December), lived in Palestine at the late VIII to early IX Centuries. The Monk Jonah lived a virtuous and holy life. He had two sons – glorified afterwards for their martyr's confession of Orthodoxy during the time of the Iconoclast heresy. After the death of his spouse, Saint Jonah withdrew to the Laura of the Monk Sava the Sanctified (Comm. 5 December), where both his sons earlier had taken monastic vows. The Monk Jonah dwelt at the Laura until his death in the IX Century. The Lord bestowed upon His saint the gift of graced healing.

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.