The Holy Prophet Jonah lived in the eighth century before the birth of Christ and succeeded the Prophet Elisha. The Book of Jonah contains not only prophetic messages concerning God's judgment upon the Israelite nation, the sufferings of the coming Savior, the fall of Jerusalem, and the end of the world, but also a narrative of Jonah’s mission to the people of Nineveh, calling them to repentance (Jonah 3:3–10).

When the Scribes and Pharisees demanded a sign from Him, our Lord Jesus Christ referred to Jonah, saying that no sign would be given except the sign of the Prophet Jonah: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). Through this, Christ revealed the deeper, symbolic meaning of Jonah’s story—foreshadowing His own death on the Cross, descent into Hades, and His Resurrection.

In rebuking the unrepentant hearts of His generation, the Lord declared, “The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here” (Matthew 12:41).

Troparion — Tone 2

We celebrate the memory / of Your prophet Jonah, O Lord; / through him we entreat You, / save our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “Today You have shown forth...”)Enlightened by the Spirit, your pure heart became the dwelling place of most splendid prophecy; / for you saw things far off as if they were near. / Therefore, we honor you, blessed and glorious Prophet Jonah.