Today, Monday, September 21, according to the name day calendar, the memory of the Prophet Jonah is honored.
The names celebrating today are:
- Jonas,
- Jonah,
- Ion,
- Ionia.
The Prophet Jonah
The Prophet Jonah lived during the reigns of Kings Amaziah and Jeroboam. He was the son of Amittai and his homeland was Gath-hepher, of the tribe of Zebulun. It was Jonah who, by divine inspiration, encouraged Jeroboam to wage war against the ruler of Syria, a campaign that ended in victory for Israel and the restoration of its borders. Jonah appears in the Old Testament as the fifth among the so-called minor prophets. We learn about him primarily through the book that bears his name, which brought him widespread recognition due to its profound spiritual drama. The Lord had commanded him to go to Nineveh — a city steeped in vanity, false adornments, and debauchery — to preach to its people and prophesy its destruction.
However, Jonah chose to disregard God’s command and decided instead to travel to Tarshish. He set sail by ship, but once out at sea, a great storm arose. The sailors cast lots to determine who was responsible for the calamity that had befallen them, and the lot fell on Jonah, who had disobeyed God’s command. They then threw him into the sea, and the storm ceased. Jonah was swallowed by a great whale, yet remained unharmed within it, and after three days and three nights, the whale cast him safely onto dry land. Jonah then went to Nineveh, proclaimed the message God had given him, and the Ninevites repented — they fasted for 40 days — and so their city was spared from destruction. For repentance brings forth the goodness of God above His justice. Jonah died in the land of Saraar, near the oak of Deborah, and was buried in a cave.
Also today marks the International Day of Peace and World Alzheimer’s Day.
☀ Sunrise: 07:12 – Sunset: 19:24
🌔 Moon: 9.6 days old
