Conon of Akamas

Venerable Conon of Akamas was an ascetic of Cyprus of the fourth century, founder of a monastic community and of a hospital and an almshouse. He is commemorated on 5 March. He is honoured in Cyprus; he has no known canonization.

He was born in the Akamas region of Cyprus a few years after the repose of Saint Hilarion the Great, to pious and God-⁠loving parents. From childhood he loved temperance, asceticism and virtue and resolved to leave the world and settle in a cave, far from his village. There he fought the good fight and advanced in the life in Christ. Gradually a group of young men gathered round him and a monastic brotherhood formed.

The times were hard: poverty and illness oppressed people. The saint, marked by love of God and of man, took care to found around the monastery a hospital and an almshouse for the aged, called the Ptocheion, so that the sick and poor might find hope and refuge there. After struggling in a God-⁠pleasing way, with perfect love toward God and man, he fell asleep in peace in extreme old age. Parts of his holy relics are kept at the monasteries of Kykkos and Machairas in Cyprus.