Житие и страдание святого мученика Конона Исаврийского

The Holy Apostle of Languages ​​1728 Paul, during one of his evangelistic travels 1729, enlightened the inhabitants of the city of Isauria 1730 with the light of true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. At the same time, in the village of Bethany, located 18 stadia 1731 from the city of Isauria, there lived one man named Nestor with his wife Nada. They had a son, Konon. When the boy grew up, his parents decided to marry him and betrothed him to the beautiful girl Anna. But even earlier than that, Saint Archangel Michael appeared to Konon in the form of a radiant 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, having made the sign of the cross over him, he became invisible. From that time on, the youth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and Archangel Michael invisibly always remained with him. On the day of marriage, the bride and groom were taken to the bridal chamber with general joy. Here Konon covered a lit candle with a vessel and asked the girl: – What is better – darkness or light? – Light, of course, is better than darkness. Then Saint Konon opened his lips filled with Divine grace and began to convince the bride to preserve her virginity and purity of life and to believe in Christ, the True God. “This is,” he said, “unflickering light, and carnal life and pagan wicked faith are darkness.” The girl had a good heart, so the seeds of God’s word fell on good soil, and the bride soon agreed with her groom on everything. She believed in Christ and vowed to preserve her virginity forever. So this holy couple lived in virgin purity, like brother and sister, or, better said, like two Angels of God, like the Seraphim, burning with love for God and pleasing Him alone. A little more time passed, and Blessed Konon managed to convince his parents to leave idolatry and turn to Christ. Konon baptized his father, mother and bride, and all of them, instructed and taught by Saint Konon, pleased God. Conon's father, blessed Nestor, was also awarded the crown of martyrdom, having been killed by idolaters for exposing their errors. After a little time, the saint’s mother, blessed Nada, departed in peace to the Lord, and after her the holy virgin Anna, Konon’s betrothed, moved into the imperishable chamber of the heavenly bridegroom Christ. Saint Konon gave them all an honest burial in one place. Left alone, Konon continued to live for God, practicing the thought of God, mortifying his body with fasting, labor and all-night prayers. For his exploits, he was awarded the grace of the Holy Spirit, which, like some kind of treasure, was hidden in him for a long time and was revealed already during the old age of Saint Konon. It was like that. In that country, in a deserted place, in impassable mountains, there was a cave, terrible and dark. In the cave there was an idol church, where there stood a huge stone idol of the wicked god Apollo 1732, who was especially revered in the Isaurian country. It was the custom of the Isaurians to gather there every year on the day of celebration of Apollo to sacrifice and celebrate an abominable holiday. When the day of this holiday arrived and all the inhabitants of the city gathered to go to the church, which was located in the cave, Saint Konon, moved by the Spirit of God, came to the city. Seeing a multitude of armed people, on horseback and on foot, as if preparing for battle, he shouted to them in a loud voice: - Men of the Isaurians, wait a little, I want to say a word to you. Why are you armed? Has your country been suddenly attacked by an enemy army and is challenging you to battle? - No, but we are going to make a sacrifice to the god Apollo and celebrate him. Saint Conon asked them again: “I want to know from you who this Apollo is and what is his power?” – He is our provider, he gives us all the blessings; he also strengthened our fathers, from whom we adopted 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? - No! But our fathers commanded us to believe in him. Saint Conon said to them: – Your fathers, like dumb animals, were themselves deceived, not knowing the True God; for if they had known Him, they would not have shown such veneration to a deaf, dumb and vile idol. Give me power over your god, and I will show you who you worship, who your god is. If I smear paint on it, will it be able to wash itself? If I smash it with an iron hammer, will it be able to be whole again? If I give him something to 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 a stranger to your affairs; leave idolatry, and I will teach you how to honor the True God and worship Him who sits on the highest. This is the invisible God, but all-seeing, the Creator of heaven and earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, the mighty and omnipotent King, who saves His servants and destroys His enemies, those who worship idols and sacrifice to demons. This God does not require bloody sacrifices, but wants those who come to Him to know Him without malice and 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, emanating from the Father, also reigns with Them. These three persons are essentially One God, who burns with fire the idolaters who hate Him, but loves those who love Him; There is no limit to His mercy, for He is merciful to all who place their hope in Him and call upon Him with faith. The people became agitated by these speeches of the saint, and a great noise arose among them: some rushed at the saint to kill him, others held them back, not allowing them to raise their hands against him, because they wanted to hear something else from him. When the popular unrest 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 worship more than all other gods; show us some sign from your God, so that we may believe in Him. Saint Conon, hearing that they were asking for a sign, placed his trust in God and said to the people: “Behold, many of you are on horses, and many are on foot, young and strong youths. Let us all go to the cave of Apollo, to the place of your meeting, you are in front, and I, like an old man, will follow you, and let us give each other the word that whoever of us comes first, his God is great and true, and it is fitting to believe in Him. If some of you on horseback, others, strong and young, walk ahead of me, old and weak in body, and reach the church of Apollo before me, then your god is truly God. If I, an old man, get there on foot faster than you, then my God is greater than your god and you will have to believe in Him. Everyone approved of his speech and agreed to the condition he proposed, saying among themselves: “This old man will not be able to get there in four days: the path is long and inconvenient, as it stretches among high mountains and deep valleys covered with dense bushes.” After that, everyone hurried to the cave: some relying on their horses, others on their legs, and Saint Conon followed them, moving with difficulty. On the way, he fervently prayed to God, and immediately the holy Archangel Michael appeared before him, took him and in an instant carried him to the place where everyone was rushing. The people hurrying on horseback and on foot were thrown into confusion by an invisible force by the Archangel, and they wandered through the mountains and wilds, and people and horses fell from mountain heights and were broken, and all day and all night they could not get to Apollo’s cave and were not even sure whether they were going the right way. In the morning, unexpectedly for them, Saint Conon came out to meet them. Seeing him, the people were in great amazement. The saint, laughing at them, asked: - Why couldn’t you come sooner? I have been waiting for you for a long time and decided to meet you halfway. The people, greatly exhausted, told the saint everything that had happened to them, and begged him to show them the way to the church of Apollo. Then Saint Conon went ahead of them and, leading them to the cave, said to them: “Well, I fulfilled my condition and came here before you.” Now you must admit that my God is great and believe in Him, and deliver your god into my hands, and I will reward him for deceiving you until now. - No, do not blame our god and do not take revenge on him: it is our own fault that we were slow to come: we got lost on the way, and therefore could not fulfill what was agreed upon. This answer greatly angered the saint, and he said to them: - If you still do not believe in my God, but continue to believe in your idol, will you fulfill what he himself tells you? – If we truly hear the voice of our God, then we will immediately fulfill his word, for without a doubt we believe in him. And again they made an agreement with the saint and gave their word more firmly than the first, that they would believe everything that their god said. Then the saint, standing in front of the cave where the church of Apollo was located, called out to the idol in a loud voice: - Idol! I say to you: this is what my Lord Jesus Christ commands: come out of the church and come here to me. And immediately the soulless idol, as if alive, swayed, fell from its place and, rolling on the ground, rolled towards the saint and, rising from the ground, stood in front of him. The whole multitude of people fell into great horror and fled with loud screams. Saint Conon waved his hand at them, persuaded them not to be afraid, and barely stopped them. Having calmed them down, he turned to the idol again, and everyone began to carefully watch what else would happen. And the saint began to ask the idol: “Tell us, soulless idol, who is the True God, you, or my Lord Jesus Christ, whom I preach?” Immediately the stone idol, with trepidation, stretched out its hands to the sky and said loudly in a human voice: – The One True God, the Christ you preach. Having said this, the idol fell and crumbled. Seeing this miracle, all the people exclaimed: – The One True God, the God of Konon: He won. And many people believed in Christ and, having broken the idols, received holy baptism. Others who were embittered remained in their former unbelief and greatly mourned the death of the Apollo idol. But later, seeing many different miracles performed by Saint Konon, the rest of the pagans of that land believed in Christ. In the same Isaurian country, in another cave, also located in a deserted place, lived a terrible demon. He, like a warrior or robber, attacked people and animals passing by and killed them. The Isaurians brought him many sacrifices, begging him not to harm them and not to kill them, but their prayers did not bring them any benefit, but served to even greater destruction. Then a multitude of people, believers and pagans, gathered, and they all went to Saint Conon and fervently prayed to him to drive the demon out of their country. The believers prayed, not at all doubting the power of Christ assisting Saint Konon; The pagans cunningly tempted Saint Conon, for they themselves thought that he would not be able to cast out the fierce demon, but on the contrary, the demon would kill him. Condescending to the prayers of the Isaurians, Saint Conon set off, accompanied by many people. He approached the very cave where the demon lived, while the people stood in the distance with trepidation. Turning his face to the cave, the saint, in the name of Christ, commanded the unclean spirit to leave the cave, in the sight of all the people. The demon from within called out to the saint, asking him to allow him to come out invisibly, so that people would not see his vile image. But the saint threateningly ordered him to appear before everyone. Then the demon, in front of all the people, came out of the cave in the form of a terrible shaking woman. The saint, forbidding the demon to harm anyone, sent him to Gehenna in 1733. Immediately the demon became invisible, and all the people exclaimed: Many pagans believed in Christ. And Saint Conon, having sufficiently taught the people faith in the True God, returned to the city. The people accompanied him with joyful singing; the saint himself began to sing, and the people sang along, glorifying Christ, the True God. Returning, Saint Konon settled in his village, in his father’s house, performing miracles, healing all sorts of illnesses of those who came to him with faith, and casting out demons over which power had been given to him by God. One of the most noble inhabitants of Isauria was robbed by thieves who stole a lot of gold from him. Many were slandered for this theft and given over to torture: the innocent were kept in chains and in prison, but the gold was not found. Then the one from whom it was stolen, and the relatives of those innocently slandered and languishing in prison, came to Saint Konon, and, falling at the feet of the saint, they prayed that he would ask God to help him find the stolen gold. The saint, feeling sorry for those slandered and suffering innocently, agreed to fulfill the request of the citizens. He went to the city. Here, standing in the square, he raised his hands to the sky and fervently prayed to God, until God revealed to him where the stolen gold was hidden. Having taken many of the people, Saint Conon went with them outside the city and, having walked quite a long distance through the desert, came to one stone. Under the stone was gold hidden by thieves; Saint Conon ordered those who came with him to take the gold and take it to the city. The entire Isaurian people marveled greatly and glorified God. When the one from whom the gold was stolen wanted to know who the thieves were and asked Conon about this, the saint answered him: “Take your gold and be satisfied that it has been returned to you without damage, and free those languishing in prison.” He did just that. The rumor about this miracle spread throughout the country, many turned to God, and the Church of Christ grew and multiplied day by day. After some time, Saint Conon, remaining in silence in his house, saw many demons attacking him. All the demons who lived on the island and were expelled from people and from idol churches, armed themselves against the saint. Seeing the demons, the saint bound them in the name of Jesus, so that they could not move. Then the demons began to pray to Conon, so that he would not send them into the abyss, but let him command them to do what he pleases. The saint, forbidding them to harm people, sent them to various jobs: some ordered them to dig the soil in the gardens and pull out thin herbs, thorns, nettles, others - to plow the fields and sow on them, others - to guard the fruits, some - to graze the flocks and protect them from animals, some - to chop wood and carry water, and do all kinds of household work. The demons, like slaves and captives, served Blessed Konon as long as he pleased, performing with zeal every task assigned to him, for bound by the invincible power of God, they were enslaved to God's saint. It happened that at night robbers attacked the saint’s house, hoping to find rich booty from him, for he was famous throughout that country. Having tied up the saint, the robbers wanted to torture him into pointing out the place where his gold was hidden. They had already begun to torment him, when suddenly, at the command of God, demons serving the saint appeared, seized the robbers and beat them mercilessly; then they lit a fire in the oven and began to scorch their bodies, and the saint was freed from his bonds. The saint, having mercy on the robbers, forbade the demons, and they stopped torturing the robbers, who were barely alive. Through the prayer of the saint, the robbers came to their senses, and the blessed one released them in peace, giving them the commandment to leave their robberies. The demons not only freed Saint Konon from the robbers, but by God’s will they even protected the honor of his name. For if any of the unbelieving Isaurians dared to blaspheme Konon, demons immediately attacked them invisibly and beat them, so that the name of Konon became an object of veneration and fear for everyone. One day, two idolaters remembered Konon and began to abuse him with bad words. Immediately demons attacked them, beat them, dragged them along the road by their hair and threw their detractors at the feet of the saint. After that, all the unbelievers had such a strong fear of Konon that they did not even dare to think anything bad about Saint Konon. One day, a man entered Conon's garden with the intention of stealing apples. But invisible guards grabbed him, beat him and, together with a donkey and a bag filled with fruit, brought him to the saint. The saint gave him instructions and, commanding him not to steal again, sent him away in peace. One poor widow, during the harvest, came to the field and followed the reapers, picking up the remaining ears of corn. In her arms was her young only son. Suddenly a wolf ran out of the forest, snatched the child from the mother’s arms and carried him into the desert. The people chased him, but they could not catch up with the wolf and free the child from his mouth. The distressed woman came to the holy wonderworker Konon, cried and, falling at his feet, told him her grief. He immediately gave orders to his invisible slaves, and they in an instant grabbed the wolf holding the child in its teeth and brought him before the saint. The saint returned her son to the mother alive and unharmed, and ordered the wolf to go to his place. Not all demons were, however, bound by the word of the saint; and so some of them began to inflict various diseases on the inhabitants of that country, and most of all smallpox. The saint, realizing the machinations of demons, prayed to God and immediately received power over these demons. Having gathered them all, he forbade them, and drove some into the desert, sent others into the abyss, and tied others and imprisoned them in thirty clay pots filled with tin, and, having sealed them with the sign of the cross, buried them in the ground under his house. At that time, the persecution of Christians began, and a governor named Magdon arrived in Isauria with a royal decree. The governor first of all tortured Saint Onisius to death in the village of Usorov. Then Saint Konon was taken. He was subjected to many and cruel tortures, forced to sacrifice to idols. The Isaurians, hearing that the governor had given Saint Konon over to torture, gathered in large numbers with weapons and went to the village of Usorov to kill the governor. Having learned about their intention, the governor and his servants mounted their horses and fled from the borders of that country. The Isaurians chased him, but could not catch up with him. Finding the holy martyr Konon bound and covered with wounds all over his body and bleeding, they untied him and wept for him. Wiping off his blood, they anointed their bodies with it, wanting to receive sanctification from the blood of the saint, and with tenderness they kissed the sores that they took for Christ. The holy martyr greatly grieved and was sick in soul that he was not allowed to suffer to the end, for he wanted to die in agony for his Christ. After this, the believers took the saint to his father's house, in the village of Bethany, and made every effort to heal his wounds. Two years after his suffering, Saint Konon reposed before God. Residents of the entire Isaurian country gathered and cried for the saint. He was buried together with his blessed parents and with his holy bride, who preserved her immaculate virginity until the end of her life. After the burial of Saint Konon, the Isaurians decided to turn the martyr's house into a church. When they began to dig the ground for the foundation, they found thirty clay vessels in the ground, in which Saint Conon had imprisoned demons. Not knowing what was in those vessels, but supposing there was gold or silver hidden in them, those who found them rejoiced and broke one vessel. Demons immediately came out of it in the form of thick and foul smoke and, darkening the air, created a terrible whirlwind. All the people were horrified - some fell from fear, and some fled from there. The demons flew through the air and, making a great noise, called each other by name. Everyone in that village was in great horror, so that no one dared to leave their house after sunset, for at night many demonic monsters appeared and frightened people and animals - which was temporarily allowed by God as a punishment for money-loving people who expected to find treasure in vessels. Through the prayers of Saint Conon, demonic ghosts were driven away. The other twenty-nine vessels, containing demons, were buried under the church of St. Conon. Through His holy prayers may we always remain unharmed from demons, glorifying the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - the One God in the Trinity, forever. Amen. Having lived in purity like an Angel on earth, you were honored to be an Angel with your interlocutor, and you brought your parents to the knowledge of Christ, and, having confessed one God in the Trinity, you suffered until bloodshed, Martyr Conon, pray to Him unceasingly for all of us. Saint Apostle Paul received the title “Apostle of Tongues” for his great preaching works, during which he carried the Gospel from the depths of Asia to Rome and even, according to legend, to Spain and Britain. After his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a selfless follower of Christ, the holy Apostle Paul spent his entire life in missionary labors. The Apostle began his first journey preaching the Gospel from Antioch, where he, together with Barnabas, was called to the great work of evangelism by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1-3): taking John Mark with them, the Apostles, visiting Cyprus, came to Asia Minor, and here, in Antioch of Pisidia, in Iconium and the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe, they enlightened many the teachings of Christ, being subjected to constant persecution by the Jews (Acts 13:4–14:28). Second journey of Saint Apostle. Paul undertook, together with Silas, after the Apostolic Council (51) in Jerusalem (Acts 15): having visited the previously founded churches, Apostle. Paul preached successfully in Macedonia and Greece, founding famous churches in Philippi, Thessaloniki, Beria, Athens and Corinth; he stayed in the latter for a year and a half. (Acts 15:36–18:28). The apostle again began his third journey from Antioch: again visiting the churches he had built, the apostle arrived in Ephesus, where he preached for more than 2 years; then he again passed through Macedonia and Greece and returned to Jerusalem. Here he was captured and, after two years of languishing in custody in Caesarea, he was sent to Rome, where he lived for two years, preaching the Kingdom of God without restraint (Acts 18:1–22:30). Tradition says that the apostle, having been justified before the court of Caesar, again set out on a fourth journey preaching the Gospel, reaching the borders of the West (Eusebius and Clement of Rome) and, in secondary bonds in Rome, died as a martyr during the reign of Nero. Isauria is a small area hidden in the mountains of ancient Asia Minor, bordered to the east by Lycaonia, to the north by part of Phrygia, to the west by Pisidia and to the south by mountainous Cilicia. Stage is an ancient measure of distance of about 80 or slightly more fathoms. Apollo, the god of the ancient Greeks and Romans, was revered as the god of light, especially the sun, also of mental enlightenment, poetry, music, a diviner, a healer of diseases and a guardian of civil order. Gehenna is a Greek reproduction of the Hebrew word meaning: the valley of Hinnom or “the sons of Hinnom”; This valley means a deep, narrow neck where the Jews once sacrificed their children to Molech (2 Kings 24:10; Jeremiah 7:11). In later times, it served as a dumping ground for all kinds of sewage, and fire was constantly maintained here to destroy the latter: therefore, the Valley of Hinnom became a symbol of a place of eternal torment. It is in this sense, in the sense of hell, that the word Gehenna is used in the New Testament (Matthew 5:24–40, 10:28, 18:9, 23:15; Luke 9:43, 45; Luke 12:5; James 3:6). You might be interested in: