Saint Jonah of Yashezer was born in the village of Shoksha, 16 versts from the monastery he later founded. The beginning of monastic life was established in the 1580s with the construction of a wooden church in honor of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and the joining of eight monks for joint ascetic endeavors.
Jonah diligently worked on the arrangement of the monastery, digging a canal to facilitate fishing. He traveled along remote paths in search of what was necessary for the needs of the community, crafting vessels for the divine services. His holy life became known far beyond the boundaries of the monastery, and many pilgrims brought gifts, including liturgical books.
Over time, the boundaries of the monastery expanded, and the number of churches increased. Deep love and respect for the ascetic were felt by Metropolitan Isidore of Novgorod, the igumen of the Solovetsky Monastery Jacob, and the venerable Irinarh, as well as many other contemporaries.
Saint Jonah reposed at the end of the 16th century and was buried in the Annunciation Monastery he founded.
