He was a monk in a monastery known as Penthokla, not far from the Jordan River to the west, and he was a priest. Because the fathers held him in high esteem, they commissioned him to perform the baptismal service on his seekers. He anointed them with oil and baptized both men and women. Baptizing women bothered him because it made him weak. He thought of leaving the monastery. Then the glorious Forerunner appeared to him and said, “Be patient, and I will deliver you from this struggle.” He remained in this state for a while without changing anything. It happened that a Persian girl came to be baptized, and she was very beautiful, but Konon did not dare to anoint her with oil.
بقيت هناك يومين تنتظر وكونن يمتنع. فلما وصل الخبر إلى رئيس الأساقفة بطرس حاول تكليف إحدى الشماسات بالمهمة لكن مبادرته خابت لأن تلك لم تكن العادة المتبعة. أخيراً قرر كونن مغادرة الدير. أخذ عباءته وانصرف سالكاً طريق الهضاب. فجأة وقف به القديس يوحنا المعمدان وقال له بصوت ناعم : “عد إلى ديرك فأخّلصك من هذا الصراع “. فأجاب بغضب “صدقني، لن أعود لأنه سبق لك أن وعدتني مرات عديدة ولم تفِ بوعدك “. فأجلسه المعمدان بالقوة وجعل علامة الصليب ثلاثاً تحت صرّته قائلاً له : “ثق، أيها الكاهن كونن، إني كنت أشاء لك الثواب لهذا الجهاد. فإن كنت لا ترغب فيه فلا بأس، هأنذا أخّلصك من ألمك لكنك لن تحظى بالمكافأة التي كانت مدخرة لك”.
Conan returned to the monastery confidently and baptized the Persian girl the next day. He did not feel any discomfort as he had previously felt. He did not even notice that the one seeking baptism was a woman. From then on he continued to baptize for twelve years without feeling any strange or impure movement in his body.
Once he was going to one of the holy places and some Jews met him and wanted to kill him. When they drew their swords and ran towards him, their hands dried up in the air. The monk prayed for them and they regained their health. They asked him for forgiveness and went on their way, happy and thanking God for his great blessing.
Conen was abbot of the monastery for eight years before his death. He died in peace around 555 AD.
The church commemorates him on February 19.