"No, but we are going to offer sacrifice to the god Apollo and celebrate him."

Saint Conon again asked them:

"I want to know from you who this Apollo is, and what is his power?"

People answered:

"He is our providence, he gives us all blessings; He also strengthened our fathers, from whom we received the custom of celebrating him.

Then the saint, laughing at them, asked them the following question:

- Have you ever heard the voice or any word of your god?

They answered:

-No! But our fathers commanded us to believe in him.

Saint Konon said to them:

- Your fathers, like dumb animals, were themselves in delusion, not knowing the True God; for if they had known Him, they would not have shown such reverence to a deaf, dumb, and filthy idol. Give me power over your god, and I will show you whom you worship, who this god of yours is. If I smear it with paint, will it be able to wash itself? If I smash it with an iron hammer, will it be able to be safe again? If I let him eat, will he reach out to take the food and start eating?! How long will you be mad? Listen to me, for I am from your own city, but I am a stranger to your works; Give up idolatry, and I will teach you how to worship the True God and worship Him who sits in the highest. This is the invisible but all-seeing God, the Creator of heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them, the mighty and omnipotent King, Who saves His servants and destroys His enemies, those who worship idols and offer sacrifices to demons. This God does not require blood sacrifices, but wants those who come to Him to know Him without malice or guile, and to believe that He is the True God, the Father of His Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is not separated from the Father, Who through Him created the worlds; the eternal Holy Spirit reigns with Them. proceeding from the Father. These three persons are essentially One God, Who burns with fire the idolaters who hate Him, but loves those who love Him; His mercy has no bounds, for He is merciful to all who put their trust in Him and call upon Him in faith.

The people were agitated by these words of the saint, and there was a great uproar among him: some rushed at the saint in order to kill him, others restrained them, not allowing them to raise their hands against him, for they wished to hear something more from him. When the popular agitation had subsided somewhat, some of the people asked the saint:

"How can you convince us that there is a God higher than our god Apollo, whom we revere more than all other gods; show us some sign from your God, that we may believe in Him.

Saint Conon, hearing that they were asking for a sign, put his trust in God and said to the people: