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| Holy Martyr Conon, Pray for us ! |
⛪ Other Names :
• Conon the Gardener • Conon of Palestine • Conon of Magydos • Conone
⛪ Died :
• Nails were driven through his ankles and he was forced to run ahead of a chariot until he collapsed and it ran over him, c.251 at Pamphylia (part of modern Turkey)
The holy martyr Conon, a gardener from Nazareth of Galilee, lived during the reign of Emperor Decius (249-251). He left Nazareth, bound for the city of Mandron in the province of Pamphylia. Once there, he sojourned in a place called Karmela or Karmena. He resumed his work of cultivating a garden where he would grow a variety of vegetables, and, thereby, he was able to sustain himself. Conon was a simple and guileless man. When the deputies who were ordered to apprehend Conon because he was a Christian arrived, he greeted them all with his heart and soul. His captors then revealed that he was being summoned to appear before Governor Puplius. Conon innocently remarked: "What does the governor require of me, for I am a Christian? Let him invite them that are of like-mind and worship the idols." Whereupon, the deputies bound Conon and brought him before the governor, who then proceeded to encourage Conon to sacrifice to the idols. Conon then sighed from the depths of his heart. He rebuked Puplius for his folly and confessed that he was of the Christian Faith. He explained that it was impossible for him to renounce his Faith, though he undergo ten thousand torments. At this point, Governor Puplius condemned Conon to harsh punishment. His feet were pierced with nails, and he was tied behind the governor's chariot. The martyr was then forced to run quickly behind. After a while, the Saint was dragged on his knees. The path was littered with sharp stones which tore at him, and he became covered with wounds. Though terribly lacerated, he continued to pray to God all the while and then surrendered his soul in the hands of God.
From The Lives of the Saints of the Holy Land and the Sinai Desert, pp. 167-168.