Holy Prophet Jonah — September 22 / October 5 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 22 according to the Julian Calendar (October 5 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Holy Prophet Jonah.

The holy Prophet Jonah, one of the Minor Prophets, labored during the reign of Jeroboam II, king of Israel. God sent Jonah to Nineveh, the city of the Assyrians, Israel’s enemies, commanding him to announce to them that they would perish unless they repented of their sins. Jonah did not wish to preach to the enemies of Israel and resolved to flee; he boarded a ship and sailed in the opposite direction, toward Tarshish. By God’s command a terrible storm suddenly arose. Those aboard the ship were greatly afraid and called upon their gods, but the storm did not abate. Then they cast lots to learn on whose account this misfortune had come upon them, and the lot fell on Jonah. The prophet confessed his fault before God and said to them: “Take me up and cast me into the sea, so shall the sea be calm for you; for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you” (Jonah 1:12). They cast Jonah into the sea, and the storm ceased.

The Lord’s chosen one was swallowed by a great fish, and he remained in its belly three days and three nights, entreating God for deliverance. At last, by God’s command, the fish cast him up on the shore. Jonah again received the command from above to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. This time the saint fulfilled God’s will: he came to the city of his enemies and began to proclaim, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). When the Ninevites heard this, they were struck with repentance; they put on sackcloth, proclaimed a fast, and would not even give food and water to their animals. The Lord accepted their repentance, forgave their sins, and the city was spared.

The three days that the Prophet Jonah spent in the belly of the fish, and his deliverance, foreshadowed our Lord Jesus Christ’s three days in the tomb and His glorious Resurrection. When the scribes and Pharisees demanded a sign from Him, the Savior answered: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah” (Matthew 12:39).