The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the commemoration of St. Jonah the Prophet today.
St. Jonah the Prophet is one of the 12 minor prophets of the Bible. The “Prophecy of Jonah” in the Old Testament tells how, by God’s command, the prophet Jonah sets out for Nineveh to preach to the pagan inhabitants of the city, but does not immediately follow the Lord’s command. Avoiding fulfilling God’s command, Jonah tries to hide in a settlement called Tarshish.
However, on the way to escape, the sea becomes stormy, into which the prophet, thrown, is swallowed by a giant whale by God’s command. Horrified, Jonah prays and repents to the Lord for salvation and three days later, by God’s will, he is released from prison.
This time, obeying God’s command, Jonah sets out for Nineveh. Starting his sermon, he prophesies about the destruction of the city.
Hearing St. Contrary to Jonah's prophecy, the inhabitants of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least, even the king, observe a fast and, with repentance and prayer, save their hometown from impending destruction.
We learn from Qahana.am that in the Armenian Apostolic Church, the day of remembrance of the prophet Jonah is always celebrated during the period of Lent, as a reminder that with true repentance one can merit God's favor and mercy.
