St. Conon of Perga: The Martyr Saint and the Last Descendant of the Family of Jesus Christ (March 5th)

Edited by Bp. Joseph

St. Conon of Perga, also known as Conon the gardener, is commemorated as a martyr saint in both the Orthodox and Catholic churches, albeit on different dates – March 5 and February 4, respectively. However, there's debate whether these refer to the same individual.

Hailing from a Greek-speaking Christian family in Nazareth, Conon met his tragic fate in the year AD 250 under the reign of Emperor Decius. His crime? Refusing to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods. The Roman Empire, notorious for its persecution of Christians during this era, executed Conon in a gruesome manner. Legend has it that spikes were driven through his feet before he was forced to run ahead of his own chariot until his demise.

The significance of Conon's lineage adds an intriguing layer to his story. Richard Bauckham has proposed Conon as the potential last known descendant of the family of Jesus Christ. This hypothesis stems from a passage in the Martyrdom of Conon where he declares his heritage, stating, "'I am of the city of Nazareth in Galilee, I am of the family (συγγένεια) of Christ, whose worship I have inherited from my ancestors, and whom I recognize as God over all things.'" Other descendants of this family were known to the Early Church in Mesopotamia, where many bishops claimed to descend from St. James the Elder, the first born son of St. Joseph the Carpenter and Caretaker of Christ, and stepbrother to Jesus Christ. 

Centuries later, during the Byzantine Emperor Constans II's Italian campaign against the Lombards, a peculiar discovery was made in Rome. As Constans II entered the city through the Porta Appia, a gate adorned with a stone bearing an incised cross greeted him. The names of St. George and St. Conon adorned the bottom of the stone in Greek, with the phrase 'thanks be to God' emblazoned at the top. This shows how incredibly important this Saint was at the time, and how mysteriously his story and importance faded over time. 

St. Conon's story echoes the resilience and unwavering faith of early Christians in the face of persecution. Whether or not he was indeed a descendant of the family of Jesus Christ, his legacy endures through the centuries, inspiring believers worldwide, who are all now co-inheritors with Jesus Christ through His work on the Cross and the Waters of Baptism! 

Blessed Feast!