The holy martyr Conon was brought up in the Christian Faith and baptized in the name of the All-holy and Life-giving Trinity by the Archangel Michael himself. Until his death, the archangel of God invisibly watched over him. Conon was illumined and empowered by the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that his heart was driven not by anything worldly but only by the spiritual and heavenly. When his parents forced him into marriage, the first evening he took a candle and placed it under a vessel and asked his bride: “Which is better, light or darkness?” She replied: “Light.” He began to talk to her about the Faith of Christ, and about the spiritual life as being far superior and more desirable than the physical. Afterward Conon converted his wife and her parents to the Christian Faith. Conon and his wife lived as brother and sister. Shortly thereafter, his wife and parents died, and he withdrew completely from this worldly life and devoted himself totally to prayer, fasting, and divine contemplation. He performed great miracles, through which he converted many to Christianity. He even compelled evil spirits to serve him. During a time of persecution, Conon was captured, tortured, and pierced throughout with knives. The sick anointed themselves with his blood, and they were healed. Afterward he lived for two more years in his town of Isauria. Conon lived and was martyred in the second century.
With our hymn, let us praise Conon as a hard worker and a great martyr. He is a blessed sufferer who received authority over devils, so let us cry out to him: Beg Christ to save our souls.
Having lived an angelic life on earth in your purity, you were admitted to their company in heaven. You brought your parents to a knowledge of Christ and shed your blood to profess the one God in the Trinity. Pray unceasingly for all of us, O martyr Conon.
Genesis 9: 8-17
God said to Noah and to his sons with him: See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you: the birds, the tame animals, and all the wild animals that were with you–all that came out of the ark. I will establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastated the earth. God said: This is the sign of the covenant that I am making between me and you and every living creature with you for all ages to come: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and every living creature–every mortal being– so that the waters will never again become a flood to destroy every mortal being. When the bow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature–every mortal being that is on earth. God told Noah: This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and every mortal being that is on earth.
Proverbs 12: 8-22
For their good sense people are praised, but the perverse of heart are despised.
Better to be slighted and have a servant than put on airs and lack bread.
The just take care of their livestock, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
Those who till their own land have food in plenty, but those who engage in idle pursuits lack sense.
A wicked person desires the catch of evil people, but the root of the righteous will bear fruit.
By the sin of their lips the wicked are ensnared, but the just escape from a tight spot.
From the fruit of their mouths people have their fill of good, and the works of their hands come back upon them.
The way of fools is right in their own eyes, but those who listen to advice are the wise.
Fools immediately show their anger, but the shrewd conceal contempt.
Whoever speaks honestly testifies truly, but the deceitful make lying witnesses.
The babble of some people is like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise is healing.
Truthful lips endure forever, the lying tongue, for only a moment.
Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who counsel peace have joy.
No harm befalls the just, but the wicked are overwhelmed with misfortune.
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who are truthful, his delight.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Monday, March 4 –
