Konon of Bidana
Konon von Bidana or Konon der Isaurer , sometimes also Conon (* in the 2nd or 3rd century; † in the 3rd or 4th century) was an early Christian martyr . He is especially venerated as a saint in the Orthodox churches . His feast day is March 5th.
Life
Konon was born in the 2nd or 3rd century in the village of Bidana near the city of Isaura . His parents Nada and Nestor betrothed him to a woman named Anna. Konon is baptized before the wedding. On the wedding night he convinces Anna to have a chaste marriage. Only years later, after his relatives died, did Konon emerge as a Christian miracle worker .
Six of Konon's miracles are told in his saint's life. The most spectacular miracle is also the first: When the inhabitants of the city of Isaura want to celebrate the birthday of their city god Apollo , Konon stops them and tries to convince them of the Christian message. After many twists and turns, he later causes the statue of Apollo to fall in a cave and to confess his weakness in a human voice. Since then, this day has been celebrated with a large torchlight procession as the holiday of Konon. The other miracle stories report, for example, that Konon turns evil demons into farmers or saves the child of a poor widow from a wolf.
When the governor in Iconium comes to the region to seize Christians, he is named Konon. Konon is arrested in Bidana and the governor is bringing him to trial. Since Konon does not want to renounce his belief, he is tortured. When the residents of the city of Isaura hear about it, they take up arms and drive out the governor and his troops. Konon survives seriously injured. He only dies in peace two years later.
Konon von Bidana is very often confused with other saints of the same name, especially Konon von Magydos / Perge and Konon von Ikonion .
Worship and iconography
Konon was especially worshiped in his home region around the city of Isaura. Bidana, the village he was born in, was even elevated to the city of Leontopolis by Emperor Leon II (this is attested by a law preserved in the Codex Justinianus ). In the Rough Cilicia there are many traces of his worship, especially on inscriptions. A fresco in a Cappadocian cave church from the 10th century shows Konon in a half-length portrait. However, individual finds also come from more distant regions such as Egypt .
As Cono il taumaturgo, Konon is the patron of the Italian community of Castelcivita in the Cilento .
literature
- Philipp Pilhofer: The martyrdom of Konon von Bidana in Isauria. Introduction, text, translation (PDF; 100 MB) . De Gruyter, Berlin / Boston 2020, ISBN 978-3-11-064105-9 ( Texts and Studies on the History of Early Christian Literature , Vol. 188).
- Karl Georg Kaster: Art. Konon von Isauria (the Isaurer) , in: Lexikon der Christian Ikonographie , ed. by Wolfgang Braunfels , Volume 7. Herder Verlag, Freiburg im Breisgau a. a. 1974, col. 332f.
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Greek text and a German translation: Pilhofer, Konon , 105–150.
- ↑ Konon is thus not a martyr in the strict sense (but a confessor ), but is still referred to and venerated as a martyr.
- ↑ Pilhofer: Konon , 45-47.
- ^ Karl Georg Kaster: Konon .
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Konon of Bidana |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Conon of the Isaurs |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Martyrs and saints of the Orthodox Churches |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 2nd century or 3rd century |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Bidana, Isauria |
| DATE OF DEATH | 3rd century or 4th century |