Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Moscow

The celebration of a special Feast Day to honor Saints Peter, Alexei, and Jonah, Metropolitans and Wonderworkers of All Russia, was established by Patriarch Job on October 5, 1596. In 1875, Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, proposed that Saint Philip be included with the others. Saint Ermogénes was added in the year 1913.

Just as the Three Hierarchs Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom have their individual Feast Days, they are also commemorated together on January 30. Similarly, on October 5 the Russian Church honors the First Hierarchs of Moscow, Saints Peter, Alexei, Jonah, Philip, and Ermogenes (Ermogénes), who also have their own separate Feast Days as well. In this manner, the Russian Church honors them separately, and collectively today, glorifying them as guardians of the Church, and heavenly intercessors before the Throne of God.

In 2005, the names of Saint Innocent, Saint Makarios, Saint Job, Saint Tikhon, Saint Philaret, Saint Peter (Polyansky), and Saint Makarios (Nevsky) were added to the list of the other Hierarchs who are commemorated on October 5. These seven names, however, have not been added to the Menaion Service by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Information about the lives of these holy Hierarchs is to be found under the dates of their commemoration:

Saint Peter (December 21 and August 24)

Saint Alexei (February 12 and May 20)

Saint Jonah (March 31, May 27, and June 15)

Saint Makarios (December 30)

Saint Philip (January 9 and July 3)

Saint Job (April 5 and June 19)

Saint Ermogenes (February 17 and May 12)

Saint Tikhon (April 7 and October 9)

Saint Philaret (November 19)

Saint Peter (Polyansky) (September 27)

Saint Makarios (Nevsky) (February 16)