Jonah of Pechenga

Venerable Martyr Jonah of Pechenga was a priestmonk of Pechenga Monastery in northern Russia, killed by Swedish invaders in December 1589.

According to the Synodikon of Solovetsk Monastery from about 1500, he was born in the Pomeranian village of Varzuga, in what is now the Murmansk district. After serving as a parish priest, he entered Pechenga Monastery, where he became a close disciple of Saint Tryphon. He was martyred in December 1589, a year before the start of the Russian-⁠Swedish War, during an attack of Swedish and Finnish invaders on the monastery. According to tradition, he and his concelebrant, the priestmonk Herman, were killed during the Divine Liturgy, as they were receiving the Eucharist. Together with 115 other monks and laypeople killed in the invasion they were venerated throughout the Novgorod region. In 2003 they were formally glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church for veneration throughout the Church.

Jonah of Pechenga is commemorated on 25 December.