Hierarch15th century

Saint Jonah Bishop of Perm

reposed 1470

Also known as Jonah of Great Perm

A successor of St Stephen of Perm who completed the conversion of Great Perm in 1462, baptizing its princes and people and establishing the Church among them.

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Jonah, Bishop of Great Perm

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Missionary Work

Life

Saint Jonah, Bishop of Great Perm, was a fifteenth-century Russian hierarch and missionary who completed the Christianization of the region of Great Perm, the territory in the northeast of Rus' first evangelized by Saint Stephen of Perm. Holding the Perm cathedra that Stephen had founded, Jonah is remembered as an enlightener who brought the faith to the remaining pagan population, baptizing its princes and people and consolidating the Church among them.

He took up the episcopal office following Saint Pitirim, Bishop of Perm, who had been killed by the Vogulani in 1455, and according to the tradition was enthroned by Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow. In 1462 he secured the conversion of Great Perm to Christ, after which he traveled throughout his extensive diocese to spread and strengthen the faith. He reposed on June 6, 1470, and is commemorated on that day together with the other hierarchs of Perm.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

TroparionTone 4

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you;
your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Jonah,
entreat Christ our God
that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline3 momentsReadHide

1455Succession to the cathedra of PermJonah came to the episcopal see of Perm following Saint Pitirim, Bishop of Perm, who had been murdered by the Vogulani. By tradition he was enthroned in that year by Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow.
1462Conversion of Great PermSaint Jonah converted the inhabitants of Great Perm to Christ. The tradition relates that he prevailed in a debate about the faith held at Uros, led an influential prince to Christ, and with his help finally brought the pagans of the region into the Church.
1470Repose at Ust-VymAfter journeying throughout his diocese, including its most remote places, the saint reposed on June 6, 1470, and was buried at Ust-Vym in the cathedral of the Annunciation.

Contributions & Legacy

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Episcopal Ministry and Mission

As Bishop of Great Perm, Jonah oversaw a large diocesan territory and continued the missionary labors that Saint Stephen of Perm had begun and that Saints Gerasim and Pitirim had carried forward before him. The sources record that after winning the people, he removed the idols of the former pagan worship, built churches, and transferred experienced priests into the region to catechize the new converts.

He is held to have founded the first monastery in the Urals, dedicated to Saint John the Theologian. As his life drew to a close, the saint is said to have sought to visit even the most distant parts of his diocese before his repose.

The Hierarchs of Perm

Saint Jonah stands within a recognized succession of enlighteners of the Perm land and is commemorated together with Saints Gerasim, Pitirim, and Jonah as the holy hierarchs of Perm. The line traces back to Saint Stephen of Perm, who settled at Ust-Vym and became the first bishop of the region in the fourteenth century.

Companions4 figuresShowHide

First bishop and enlightener of Perm, whose missionary work Jonah continued and completed.

Saint StephenBishop of Perm

Jonah's predecessor on the Perm cathedra, killed by the Vogulani in 1455; commemorated August 19.

Pitirim and JonahBishops of Perm

An earlier hierarch of Perm, commemorated with Jonah among the holy hierarchs of Perm.

GerasimusBishop of Perm

Reposed 1461; by tradition enthroned Jonah of Perm to the episcopate.

JonahMetropolitan of Moscow and All Russia

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints