March: Day 5: Teaching 2: Holy Martyr Conon the Gardener

March: Day 5: Teaching 2:
Holy Martyr Conon the Gardener
 
(Lessons From His Life: 
a. All Of Us Must Labor; 
b. We Must Be Simple-Hearted; and 
c. How To Imitate The Martyrs?)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Today the Holy Church celebrates the memory of the Holy Martyr Conon the Gardener. Saint Conon was from Nazareth of Galilee and lived and labored in Pamphylia, working as a gardener. In character he was simple, not a learned man, but he feared God and kept His commandments.

During the persecution of Christians under Decius, the governor Publius ordered that he be seized and compelled him to offer sacrifice to idols. And when Conon remained firm in his confession, nails were driven into his feet and he was forced to run. The Holy Martyr grew weak, fell to his knees, and after praying, surrendered his spirit to God.

II. My good listeners! The story of the Holy Martyr Conon is not long, but how much instruction it contains for us.

a) Saint Conon, as we said, occupied himself with gardening, and by such work and labor, of course, obtained what was necessary for life. And each one of us must labor and by labor acquire food and sustenance for himself and for his family.

The Lord Himself commanded man to labor. He said: “In the sweat of your face you shall eat your bread” (Gen. 3:19).

Of course, our labors and occupations differ. But whatever a person does, he must labor according to God’s law and live soberly and honestly. For only honest and righteous labors the Lord loves and blesses. And only honest and righteous labors bring joy to our soul and draw us nearer to God and to His eternal kingdom.

But God forbid that we should become lazy and refuse to work. The Holy Apostle teaches: “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat” (2 Thess. 3:10), that is, he is not worthy even of a piece of bread.

A man lazy toward work is often also lazy in praying to God; and even if he does pray, it is often with carelessness and distraction. And does such a person often think about his soul and his sins? Does he often think about repentance and about saving his soul from eternal torment? No, brethren — both earthly goods and the eternal salvation of the soul are obtained through prayer and labor.

b) Saint Conon, as we said, was simple in character. Such a disposition should adorn every Christian as well.

And this means that none of us should ever be proud or exalt himself before anyone, but should treat everyone gently and kindly, with brotherly Christian love. No one should offend or deceive another; one should speak and do only what is true, and always keep a good heart.

Such a heart is precious and pleasing to God, loved by angels and by good people. Not without reason do wise people also say: “In simple hearts the Lord dwells.”

Oh, if only we all tried always to have a good heart! How much good, how much joy and peace of soul we would then have! But it is bitter to say how many among us are obstinate and cunning, disrespectful and unpeaceful, arrogant, thinking highly of themselves, often deceiving and offending one another.

And is it not for this very reason that we have few sincere and faithful friends? Is it not for this reason that we have little joy and peace of soul?

c) Saint Conon, during the persecution of Christians, endured torments for the holy faith of Christ and died a martyr’s death.

We, brethren, by the mercy of the Lord, live in a country where Christ is glorified, the Christian faith flourishes, and no one persecutes us for the name of Christ. Yet we also can and must imitate the struggles of the holy martyrs.

How and in what way?

When, for the sake of our Christ and eternal salvation, we submissively accept the will of God and endure the illnesses, misfortunes, and trials that befall us — every earthly sorrow and deprivation — then we imitate the holy martyrs and draw nearer to the kingdom of Christ.

For in the Holy Scripture it is written:

“Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

And how many spiritual sufferings a Christian sometimes experiences from his sinful inclinations and passions, from evil thoughts and desires! And if we strive to overcome and conquer them, and turn to God for help so that He may preserve us from every evil deed and strengthen us in the holy faith, then we, like the holy martyrs, earn for ourselves an incorruptible crown in heaven.

Who does not desire such a radiant crown? It is for us more precious than every earthly treasure.

III. Therefore let us pray to the holy martyrs that they may help us by their prayers to keep our Orthodox faith holy, to live virtuously, and to attain the eternal Kingdom of God. Amen.

(Compiled according to “Christian Discourses,” supplement to the journal “Pastoral Companion,” 1894, No. 3.)

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.