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.
She remained there for two days waiting, and Conan refused. When the news reached Archbishop Peter, he tried to entrust the task to one of the deaconesses, but his initiative failed because it was not the custom. Finally, Conan decided to leave the monastery. He took his cloak and left, taking the road to the hills. Suddenly, Saint John the Baptist stopped him and said to him in a soft voice: “Return to your monastery, and I will save you from this struggle.” He replied angrily, “Believe me, I will not return because you have promised me many times and have not kept your promise.” The Baptist forced him to sit down and made the sign of the cross three times under his navel, saying to him: “Trust, Father Conan, I wanted you to be rewarded for this struggle. If you do not want it, that is fine. I will save you from your pain, but you will not receive the reward that was saved for you.”
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.
