Job of Manyava
Job of Manyava, born Ivan Knyahynytskyi, was a Ukrainian Orthodox saint and clerical activist. He is primarily remembered as the founder of the Manyava Skete, a significant monastic cell monastery in Ukraine. His life was dedicated to spiritual ideals and the reorganization of Orthodox monasticism in his homeland.
Key Facts
- ›Born Ivan Knyahynytskyi in Tysmenytsia, Ukraine, around 1550.
- ›Educated at monastery schools in Uhniv and Ostroh, and taught at Ostrih School.
- ›Visited Mount Athos in Greece twice, where he was tonsured a monk with the name Ezekiel.
- ›Returned to Ukraine in 1600 to revitalize monastic life and reorganized several Orthodox monasteries.
- ›Founded Maniavskyi Skyt monastery near the village of Maniava in 1611.
- ›Canonized in 1994 by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and in 2004 by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate).
Ivan Knyahynytskyi, Ezekiel
About Job of Manyava
Job of Manyava, born Ivan Knyahynytskyi (c. 1550 – December 30, 1621), was a prominent Ukrainian Orthodox saint, clerical activist, and founder of the Manyava Skete, a significant monastic cell monastery in Ukraine. His life was dedicated to spiritual pursuits and the revitalization of Orthodox monasticism during a period of religious and political change in his homeland.
Early Life and Spiritual Formation
Born Ivan Knyahynytskyi in Tysmenytsia, in what is now western Ukraine, he received a solid education at monastery schools in Uhniv and Ostroh. He even served as a teacher at Ostrih School for a time. A pivotal experience in his youth was his two visits to Mount Athos in Greece. After a profound encounter with an Athonite monk, he journeyed to Mount Athos himself, where he lived in one of its monasteries and was tonsured a monk, taking the name Ezekiel.
Return to Ukraine and Founding of Manyava Skete
In 1598, Ezekiel, along with other monks, traveled to Ukraine to collect alms. He returned permanently in 1600-1601 with the intention of strengthening monastic life. Upon his return from Greece, he took on the task of reorganizing several Orthodox monasteries across Ukraine. In 1606, he settled near Krasnopol, where other monks soon joined him, drawn by his spiritual leadership. As he was not a priest, he sought a suitable monk to lead the spiritual services. The lot fell to his nephew, Deacon Theodosius, who was subsequently consecrated as a hieromonk and became the first hegumen of Maniava Skyt.
In 1611, Job officially founded the Maniavskyi Skyt monastery near the village of Maniava. He maintained friendly relationships with other notable Ukrainian church activists of his era, such as Ivan Vyshenskyi and Zakhariya Zopystenskyi. People sought his counsel on matters of faith, as evidenced by surviving correspondence.
Veneration and Legacy
Metropolitan Petro Mohyla of Kyiv spoke highly of the monks at Maniava Skyt, referring to them as "two hundred angels, who live in bodies," a testament to the spiritual atmosphere Job cultivated. The Manyava Skete, founded by Job, was eventually closed by Austrian authorities in 1785 but was reestablished in the 1990s following the collapse of communism in Ukraine.
Saint Job and Saint Theodosius of Manyava were jointly canonized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in 1994 and later by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate) on July 15, 2004. Their feast day is celebrated on June 24 (Church Calendar), which is July 7 in the civil calendar. Job of Manyava is remembered for his foundational role in establishing a vital center of Orthodox monasticism and for his dedication to spiritual purity and monastic reform in Ukraine.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Job of Manyava?
Job of Manyava, born Ivan Knyahynytskyi, was a Ukrainian Orthodox saint and clerical activist. He is recognized as the founder of the Manyava Skete monastery.
What is the Manyava Skete?
The Manyava Skete was a famous cell monastery in Ukraine, founded by Saint Job near the village of Maniava in 1611. It was a center for monastic life and spiritual ideals.
What was Job of Manyava's early life like?
Born Ivan Knyahynytskyi, he received his education at monastery schools in Uhniv and Ostroh, and even taught at Ostrih School. He was deeply influenced by a monk from Mount Athos, which led him to visit and live in Athonite monasteries, where he became a monk named Ezekiel.
When was Job of Manyava canonized?
Saint Job and Saint Theodosius of Manyava were canonized in 1994 by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). They were later canonized again by the National Church Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate) on July 15, 2004.
What is the feast day of Saint Job of Manyava?
The feast day of Saint Job and Saint Theodosius of Manyava is celebrated on June 24 according to the Church Calendar, which corresponds to July 7 in the civil calendar.
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