Synaxarium

On this day, the saintly martyr Conon fell asleep. This saint was from the village of Anitianus in the land of Syria, born to a father named Nestor and a mother named Theodora, who worshiped the stars. This was during the time the disciples preached the name of the Lord Christ the Glorious. When Conon grew up, many virtues appeared in him such as chastity, purity, piety, and mercy. His parents wanted to marry him, but he refused. However, they forced him and married him. He did not desire to know his wife, and they both remained virgins. He often said in his prayers, "O God, guide me to know You truly." The angel of the Lord Michael appeared to him and commanded him to go to one of the apostles. He went to him, learned the Christian doctrines, was baptized, and received the divine sacraments. He continued to listen to the teachings of the apostles, increasing in purity, chastity, asceticism, piety, and prayer. God granted him the gift of performing miracles and authority over demons. He attracted his parents, his wife, and her parents to the faith in the Lord Christ. Once, a pagan entered one of the caves to sacrifice to Satan. When the saint learned of this, he cried out to the devil and rebuked him to confess before the people who he was. The devil confessed that he was a demon and not a god. The people present cried out, "There is one God, Saint Conon!" They believed and were baptized. The governor Claudius Caesar heard of him and summoned him, asking about the reason for his confession of Christ. The saint confessed before him, so he bound and severely beat him. The people of his village heard and, out of love for him, rushed to kill the governor, who fled from them. They released the saint from his bonds, washed him from his blood, and carried him to their village. He lived for many years and then departed to the Lord. The believers made his house a church and placed his body there. Many signs and wonders appeared through him. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

On this day, the saints Adrianus, Martha his wife, Osapios, Armanius, and forty martyrs were martyred after severe tortures for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May their prayers be with us, and glory be to our Lord forever. Amen.