Hieromartyr 3rd century

Hieromartyr Conon and his son Conon

Reposed during the reign of Aurelian (270-275)

Also known as Conon and Conon of Iconium

A widower of Iconium who took up monastic life together with his son, also named Conon. Renowned for casting out demons, healing the sick, and preaching Christ among the pagans, father and son were both martyred for the faith.

Feast Day

March 6

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Commemorated as

The Holy Hieromartyr Conon and his son Conon, of Iconium

Life

Conon of Iconium was a 3rd-century inhabitant of Iconium in Asia Minor who, after the death of his wife, entered monastic life together with his young son, who bore the same name. By tradition he received divine grace through his ascetic labors and became known for casting out demons, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, and converting many pagans through his preaching.

Under the persecution of the Roman emperor Aurelian, father and son were arrested, tried, and put to death for refusing to sacrifice to idols. They are commemorated together by the Orthodox Church as monastic martyrs on March 6, and their relics were later carried west to Italy.

Timeline 4 moments Read Hide

3rd century Life and monastic profession at Iconium A widower of Iconium in Asia Minor, Conon entered monastic life alongside his young son. The synaxarion relates that through his devout asceticism he was granted grace from above to cast out demons, heal the sick, and give sight to the blind, while his preaching converted many pagans to Christ.
270-275 Arrest and trial under Aurelian The governor Dometian, hostile toward Christians, learned of Conon's activity and had him brought to trial. Ordered to sacrifice to idols and refusing, Conon was handed over for torture; his seventeen-year-old son, the deacon Conon, was also tried and likewise refused to renounce the faith.
270-275 Martyrdom and the earthquake After enduring severe tortures, the two were sentenced to be sawn apart. Signing themselves with the Cross, father and son gave up their souls to God, and the synaxarion relates that an earthquake immediately followed which destroyed the pagan temples of the city.
after their death Burial and translation of relics Monks secretly buried the bodies of the martyrs at the monastery where they had labored in asceticism. Their relics were later transferred to Acerno, in Campania, Italy.

Contributions & Legacy

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Martyrdom

According to the synaxarion, the governor Dometian, a persecutor of Christians, summoned Conon and demanded that he offer sacrifice to the pagan idols. When the saint refused, he was subjected to torture, and his seventeen-year-old son, the deacon Conon, was brought to trial and also stood firm in the faith.

The accounts relate that the two endured a series of cruel tortures and were finally sentenced to be cut apart with a saw. Having signed themselves with the Sign of the Cross, both father and son died, and an earthquake is said to have followed that brought down the pagan temples of the city. Their martyrdom is placed in the reign of the emperor Aurelian, between 270 and 275.

Relics & Shrines

The bodies of the martyrs were secretly buried by monks at the monastery where the saints had practiced asceticism during their lives. Their relics were afterward translated to the city of Acerno in Campania, Italy.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints