Pious Daniil was born in a village not far from Rădăuţi, to righteous parents, being baptised with the name of Demetrius. Having loved spiritual life, when he was 16 years old, he left his parents’ house and joined the community of the Rădăuţi Monastery dedicated to Saint Nicholas, growing in faith, good deeds, prayer and night vigils. He was reading every day the writings of the Holy Fathers and liturgical books, showing obedience and humbleness in everything he had to do by the abbot’s decision. He became a monk as a reward for his efforts, by the name of David, but his aspiration for more severe spiritual efforts led him to Saint Leontius of Rădăuţi Monastery, close to today’s Laura village. There, he worked together with the brethren of the monastic community during the day and prayed incessantly in his cell at night. Having seen his endeavours and noticing his continuous aspiration to God, the abbot of the monastery gave him the Great Schema, advised by his father confessor, receiving the name of Daniil.
Soon after he received the Great Schema, he retired, with the blessing of his abbot, near Viţău brook, in the forests around Putna, where he dug a cell in a rock that can still be seen today, not far from Putna Monastery. His ascetic efforts would make him known rather soon, having been visited by many faithful who wanted his advice and spiritual guidance, as well as to intercede to God for healing their spiritual and physical diseases.
Out of his many spiritual children that used to come to him rather often, one can mention Holy Ruler Prince Stephan the Great (†1504), who received spiritual advise and blessing of the pious hermit. Stephan is said to have come to the cell of the pious hermit for the first time in 1451, when his father was killed at Reuseni. Pious Daniil encouraged him and predicted he would be ruling prince. That came true after six years (1457). Following his advice, great Stephan founded Putna Monastery in 1466. After the monastery was consecrated, in 1470, the pious hermit went to live at the Eagle’s rock, near Voroneţ. Stephan the Great went to ask for his advice there too, in 1476, after he was defeated at Războieni. The hermit encouraged him to gather his army again and defend the country and Christianity against the invading pagans. The prince followed his advice and promised that after every victory he would raise a church, and so he did. Thus, besides the great prince, Venerable Daniil was also protecting Moldavia through his permanent prayers well received by God. In 1488, Stephan the Great built Voroneţ Monastery in only four months and a half.
Then, venerable Daniil came to the community over there and was elected abbot. There, he advised the monastic community and the hermits from neighbourhood, having been spiritual father of many faithful who came to him to receive spiritual benefit. God has also given him the gift to perform miracles, which the pious always tried to hide. Yet, the healing of diseases and casting out the bad spirits were signs of his holiness for which he was greatly venerated.
In 1496, pious Daniil has fallen asleep into the Lord, Whom he had served ever since he was a young man. The text on his gravestone laid by Holy Ruler Prince Stephan reads: “This is the grave of our father David, hermit Daniil”. In 1547, at the command of the metropolitan of Moldavia, Gregory Roşca (†1570), one of his disciples, his face was painted, with a saint’s halo, over the entrance door, on the southern side of the church. The parchment Pious Daniil holds in his hand reads: “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD” (Psalm 34:11).
On 5 March 1992, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided that Holy Venerable Daniil the Hermit be enlisted in the calendar and celebrated on 18 December.
Through his holy prayers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Troparion, plagal 4 tone 8:
“In you, oh, Father, the one created in the image of God was saved, for taking up the Cross, you did follow Christ and, by your deeds, you did teach us to overlook the flesh, for it is perishable, but to be attentive to the soul since it is immortal. Therefore, oh, Pious Father Daniil, your spirit rejoices with the angels”.
