On the same day the Tatars killed the blessed prince Vasily (Vasilko) Konstantinovich of Rostov, in 1238.

Feast day: 5 March

The Life and Suffering of the Holy Martyr Konon of Isauria

The holy Apostle of the Gentiles [1] Paul, during one of his evangelistic journeys [2], enlightened the inhabitants of the city of Isauria [3] with the light of true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. At the same time, in the village of Bethany, located 18 stadia [4] from the city of Isauria, there lived a certain man, named Nestor, with his wife Nado. They had a son, Konon. When the lad grew up, his parents decided to marry him and betrothed him to a beautiful maiden Anna. But even before that, the holy Archangel Michael appeared to Konon in the form of a bright man. Having taught Konon the true faith, the Archangel led Konon to the river, baptized him in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, communed the Divine Mysteries, and then, making the sign of the cross over him, became invisible. From that time the lad was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Archangel Michael invisibly always dwelt with him. On the day of the marriage, the bride and groom, with general rejoicing, were taken to the bridal chamber. Here Konon covered a lighted candle with a vessel and asked the girl:

- Which is better: darkness or light?

The girl answered:

"Light, of course, is better than darkness.

Then Saint Conon opened his lips, filled with Divine grace, and began to persuade the bride to preserve her virginity and purity of life, and to believe in Christ, the True God.

"This," he said, "is the unflickering light, and the life of the flesh and the pagan impious faith are darkness.

The maiden had a good heart, so that the seeds of the word of God fell on good soil, and the bride soon agreed in everything with her bridegroom. She believed in Christ and vowed to preserve her virginity forever. Thus this holy couple lived in virginal purity, like brother and sister, or, rather, like two Angels of God, like seraphim, burning with love for God and pleasing Him alone. A little more time passed, and Blessed Konon managed to persuade his parents to abandon idolatry and turn to Christ. Konon baptized his father, mother and bride, and all of them, instructed and taught by Saint Conon, pleased God. Konon's father, Blessed Nestor, was also vouchsafed the crown of martyrdom, having been killed by idolaters for exposing their errors. After a short time, the mother of the saint, Blessed Nada, departed in peace to the Lord, and after her also the holy virgin Anna, the betrothed of Konon, moved into the incorruptible palace of the heavenly bridegroom Christ. Saint Konon gave them all over to an honorable burial in one place.

Left alone, Konon continued to live for God, exercising himself in contemplation of God, mortifying his body by fasting, labor, and all-night prayers. For his ascetic deeds he was vouchsafed the grace of the Holy Spirit, which, like a kind of treasure, was hidden in him for a long time and was revealed already during the old age of Saint Conon. It was so.

In that country, in a desolate place, in impassable mountains, there was a cave, terrible and dark. In the cave there was an idolatrous pagan temple, where stood a huge stone idol of the impious god Apollo [5], who was especially revered in the Isaurian country. It was the custom of the Isaurians to gather there every year on the day of the celebration of Apollo for sacrifice and the celebration of the abominable feast. When the day of this feast came, and all the inhabitants of the city gathered to go to the pagan temple, which was in the cave, Saint Conon, moved by the Spirit of God, came to the city. Seeing a multitude of armed people, on horseback, and on foot, as if ready for battle, he shouted to them in a loud voice:

"Men of Isauria, wait a little, I want to say a word to you. Why are you armed? Has your country suddenly been attacked by an enemy army and challenges you to battle?

The people answered Conon: