Biography
The biblical prophet Daniel is considered one of the four great ones, along with the Old Testament saints - Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, who left behind sacred books testifying to their closeness to God. Daniel is revered by representatives of three world religions: along with Christians of all faiths, Muslims and Jews pay tribute to the righteous man. The saint lived his life in Babylonian captivity, dying at a very old age and leaving behind a book of prophecies, foreshadowing the triumph of divine truth.
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Childhood and youth
Daniel's childhood occurred at a time when Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians. King Nebuchadnezzar in 607 BC. e. destroyed the Temple of Solomon, and took part of the Jerusalem inhabitants, along with the ruler Joachim, into captivity. The young man Daniel, who came from a noble family, did not escape this fate.
Prophet Daniel. Painter Michelangelo / Sistine Chapel
The Babylonian king did not expect to keep the captives in subjection at the expense of military power, which, by the way, he did not possess. Nebuchadnezzar decided to place the most worthy representatives of the captive peoples in the service of his own state. The future prophet was also among the chosen ones, called to serve in the royal palaces along with other descendants of the nobility. At that time he was between 14 and 17 years old. For three years, young people studied at the court, studying languages and sciences.
Daniel immediately showed will and strong character, refusing to eat food from the court table, since it was sprinkled with blood sacrificed to idols. Together with him, his Jerusalem comrades, Ananias, Azariah and Misail, avoided the luxurious dishes. For the Jews, who considered themselves servants of the true God, it was considered unacceptable to share the table with pagans.
Prophet Daniel in the ditch. Mosaic in Hosios Louka / Byzantine Art in Greece
The king accommodated the young men who wished to eat exclusively plant foods, but warned that if they were exhausted, he would force them to eat with others. However, over time, it turned out that vegetarian guys were not inferior to their peers in vigor and physical health.
Mental development also turned out to be excellent. Studying mathematics, history, geography and literature, the young courtiers turned out to be even more capable than their Babylonian peers. They were given local names, and Daniel began to be called Belshazzar - “keeper of the hidden treasures of Baal.” The comrades were left at court. The young man soon acquired a special position because he distinguished himself by his extraordinary wisdom in interpreting a dream that had long troubled Nebuchadnezzar.
Prophet Daniel refuses food / Bible Revival
From then on, explaining the meaning of dreams became the duty of the courtier for years. His companions also served the king of Babylon faithfully until he one day forced them to bow to a golden image.
Not wanting to compromise the covenants of their fathers, three young men went to be burned in a fiery furnace for disobedience, but even there they continued to read prayers and give glory to the true God. An angel was sent from heaven to help them, keeping the youths unharmed. Nebuchadnezzar, seeing that not a single hair of those punished was singed, considered it necessary to exalt Ananias, Azariah and Mishael as people favored by higher powers. The story of the feat of young Jews is contained in the Book of the Prophet Daniel.
Religion and prophecies
Daniel, who had earned a reputation as a seer for his skillful understanding of visions, was close to the throne for many years. The high position remained unchanged under successive rulers. The five successors of Nebuchadnezzar listened carefully to the advice of the Jewish righteous man.
Prophet Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream / lds.org
During a feast, the Babylonian ruler Belshazzar saw a mysterious inscription on the wall that only the prophet could decipher. Despite the fact that he reproached the king for using sacred vessels, glorifying idols and predicting his imminent fall, Belshazzar glorified Daniel and named the sage the third man in the state.
Soon, in 539, Babylon was captured by the Median king Darius. Under him, a Jew occupied an important government post, which aroused the envy of the Babylonian nobles. They slandered the prophet, and he was thrown into a den of lions. It was expected that the hungry animals would tear the man to pieces, but he remained unharmed, and the sovereign again brought the old man closer to him.
Prophet Daniel in the lions' den. Artist Peter Rubens / National Gallery of Art
The next ruler, Cyrus, also turned to Daniel for advice, thanks to which in 536 a decree was issued according to which the Jews were freed from Babylonian captivity. Impressed by the wisdom of the prophet, Cyrus even ordered the construction of a new temple to the Jewish God in Jerusalem.
Throughout his life, the saint uttered prophecies that were included in the canonical text of the Bible. The book of the prophet Daniel consists of 14 chapters and is full of messianic sentiments. It predicts the time of the coming of the Son of God into the world and speaks of his atoning sufferings. Here the Messiah is also called the Son of Man, which speaks of the dualistic nature of Christ. The book's predictions concern both specific historical events and recent times, which echo the contents of the Apocalypse of John the Theologian.
Painting "Daniel's Answer to the King". Brighton Riviere artist/Bridgeman Art Library
The historical part of the book describes contemporary events of the prophet. In particular, the story about Susanna, whom Daniel saved from the perjury of two elders who were taking revenge on the girl because she refused to have sex with them. The prophetic part sets out the elder’s thoughts about future times, where future wars are described and the timing of events set out in the vision of 70 weeks is calculated.
Christ himself quotes the sayings of Daniel in the Gospel of Matthew, telling his disciples about the future destruction of Jerusalem, when there will not be left one stone upon another, and the “abomination of desolation” will reign in the sacred places. Ultimately, the prophet announces the fall of all earthly kingdoms and the onset of God's judgment, after which will come the resurrection of the dead and the eternal kingdom of heaven.
The canon is read before the icon of the Holy Prophet Daniel
The canon is read in front of the icon of the holy prophet Daniel. A canon is a kind of poem, a hymn that is sung in honor of a holiday or saint. The canon can be read at home in front of the icon.
Canon to the Holy Prophet Daniel:
SONG 1
Irmos:
Let us sing a song, people, to our wonderful God, who freed Israel from work, a song of victory, singing and crying: we sing to You, the Only Master. O Savior Benefactor, O Guilty One of all the good, enlighten my mind with Your luminous radiance, O Lover of mankind, as I may praise Your prophet’s glorious memory.
Morning, as if you have risen, wiser, chastity, you saved Sosanna, the chaste one who was in trouble: God has raised you up, the Leader of the secret, the fierce elders have condemned.
We strengthen the fear of God, Abraham's grandchildren, valiantly rejecting the most lawless food, and taking the divine desire for piety to the greatest glory.
Theotokos:
You saw the mental mountain, most sacred Daniel, the one Most Pure Ever-Virgin Maiden, from which the cornerstone was cut off, and crushed all flattery.
SONG 3
Irmos:
You are the affirmation of those who flow to You, Lord, You are the Light of the darkened, and my spirit sings of You. Reason and wisdom are received from God, said you, the son of the king of the hay.
You killed the serpent, you threw down food, the glorious, sensual, first of all you conquered the invisible demons.
Theotokos:
We enlighten the dawn, the revealed zrish, the glorious mountain of God, the adornment of men.
SEDALEN, VOICE 8
Having enriched yourself with prophecies by grace, the Virgin Nativity wrote hay and declared the dream of the king clearly; He was thrown into the ditch, as the martyr taught you, gloriously, blessedly, to fast lions. Thus you ruined the godless ministry, you killed the serpent, having been most virtuous, most worthy of Daniel. Pray to Christ the God of sins to grant your holy memory to those who celebrate love.
Glory, even now, to the Mother of God:
Rejoice, fiery throne of God; Rejoice, O Young Lady, the royal seat, a bed of great beauty, a porphyry chamber of gold, a scarlet-light robe, adorned with a temple, a weapon of lightning, a multi-bright lamp; Rejoice, Mother of God, twelve-walled city, and a gold-plated door, and a light-shaped chamber, a light-gilded table, a divinely decorated tabernacle; Rejoice, glorious Bride, dripping Sun; Rejoice, my soul alone is the beauty.
Holy Cross:
The Lamb, and the Shepherd, and the Savior Behold the Lamb on the Cross, exclaiming, weeping, and bitterly weeping, crying out: the world rejoices, having accepted Your deliverance, but My womb burns, beholding Your crucifixion, which you endure for the mercy of mercy. Long-suffering Lord, abyss of mercy and inexhaustible source, have mercy and grant forgiveness of sins through faith to those who sing Your Divine Passion.
SONG 4
Irmos:
From the shadowed mountain, the Word, the prophet, the one Mother of God, desiring to become incarnate, behold Godlike, and with fear glorify Your power. Having faithfully preserved the law, O prophet! You have truly known wisdom as the Giver, who teaches you in secret and deep and even enlightens you in the darkness.
Having lived a sacred life, the epiphany of desires, you were called a husband, you courageously trampled passions, you passed on to ageless life.
The grace of the Comforter that dwells in you, Daniel, shows you to be luminous, and a conqueror of tormentors and kings, and a dwelling place of wisdom.
Theotokos:
The Stone of Thee, cut off without a hand, the Word, from the mountain beholds the Virgin Mary, Daniel the prophet, calling and chanting Your Divinity.
SONG 5
Irmos:
From the night of ignorance, enlightening ends with the knowledge of God, enlighten me with the morning of Your love for mankind, O Lord. Having understood the suffering feats of prophecy through preaching, you shine with both, filled with Divine inspiration.
You appeared wise, blessed, more than the wisdom of wisdom, the greatest God-speaking Daniel, and you enlightened everything.
Theotokos:
Mysteriously identifies the images of the ineffable incarnation, O Pure One, like the Most High One, the glorious prophet Daniel.
SONG 6
Irmos:
As you delivered the prophet from the depths of the underworld, O Christ our God, deliver me from my sins, as a Lover of Mankind, and straighten my belly, I pray. You angelic faces in the brightest light were in vain, you were the most eminent imitator of these, enjoying the radiance of the All-Tsar.
Announcing the coming of the saving Word, you foretold the destruction of the temple, but the fulfillment of the law and grace rather than the gift of wisdom.
Theotokos:
Behold, the Virgin in the womb conceives Christ God, illumined by the Spirit, even as the glorious Daniel foresaw the image.
KONDAC TO THE PROPHET, TONE 3
Enlightened by the Spirit, your pure heart of prophecy will become your brightest friend: see for what is real, existing far away. You tamed the lions, you were thrown into the ditch, for this reason we honor you, blessed prophet, glorious Daniel.
ICOS:
Jesus Christ, our True God, whose divine coming you clearly proclaimed, pray unceasingly with this divine joy to those who honor your memory and by faith honor you through all kinds of temptations to be saved, and sins, and circumstances, as you have the boldness, the wisdom of God, having. And in my rebuke, let your lips sing a word without shame. And do not disdain me, O blessed and glorious prophet Daniel.
SONG 7
Irmos:
The Jewish youths in the furnace boldly quenched the flame and turned the fire into dew, crying out: Blessed are you, O Lord God, forever. Protected by the law, the prophet, you did not accept to be desecrated beyond lawlessness, but, enlightened by the Divine mind, you cried out: Blessed are you, Lord God, forever.
Everyone is horrified by your miracle, just like a prophet, for the prophet appeared to you, was delighted, bringing you food and singing: Blessed are you, Lord God, forever.
The ditch was closed inside and offered to the lion for food, you were saved, O God, who covered you, blessed, blessed are you, calling, O God of our fathers.
Theotokos:
You flow unenviously with healing, O Virgin of God! Daniel saw clearly the mountain from which the Savior rose, God our father.
SONG 8
Irmos:
God-speaking youths, in a furnace with fire, trampling the flames, bless the works of the Lord, the Lord]. You have appeared as a Holy Manifestation, O prophet! and with active vision you sang with the disembodied: bless all the works of the Lord, the Lord.
We all praise you, O all-blessed one, and in your honorable triumph, rejoicing, we cry: bless all the works of the Lord, the Lord.
Theotokos:
Having seen the Most Wonderful Young Lady with educational images, you cried out: Bless all the works of the Lord, the Lord.
SONG 9
Irmos:
Truly the Mother of God, we confess You, saved by You, Pure Virgin, with disembodied faces magnifying You. You have reaped the fruits of your illnesses, in heaven with the prophets rejoicing ever since, around the highest throne of the Almighty.
With the trisolar light now stands the crown bearer of extreme desires, rejoicing with disembodied faces.
Theotokos:
Red is your glory, which you now enjoy: You have been vouchsafed to proclaim to all the images of the all-sung Maiden, an honest prophet.
LIGHT:
Let the greatest prophet, Daniel, now honor Christ for our God, the stone is cut off except for the hands from the mountain - the Pure Mother of God. With him may the three youths also praise, for having saved us from the cave fire unharmed, the divine and ineffable image of the Virgin, by whom the world was saved.
And now:
The wisest Daniel secretly teaches, O All-Pure One, by the Divine Spirit, and by the faith of Abraham the three youths prescribe Your seedless Nativity: For the Divine indescribable Word from You is described in the flesh, although O Mother of God, in Bethlehem we are born for the salvation of men.
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Personal life
It is hardly possible to talk seriously about the personal life of a righteous man who lived 28 centuries ago. At the very least, Scripture is silent about it, revealing information only about his spiritual exploits, miracles and predictions. It can be assumed that the saint devoted himself entirely to serving God and therefore did not have a wife or children. It is known that Daniel respected the law of his ancestors even in small things, not allowing himself to eat food defiled by the pagans. Therefore, maintaining bodily purity and chastity is seen as one of the components of the prophetic path.
Death
The Prophet Daniel lived a long life, in which there were ups and downs; he experienced fame and veneration, which were replaced by slander and disgrace. The Holy Scripture is silent about the cause of death, but it can be assumed that the saint died of old age, having lived to be 90 years old, and according to other sources, even more. He never saw his native land, remaining a Babylonian captive until the end of his days.
The elder was buried in Susa, an ancient eastern city located on the territory of modern Iran. There is an ancient mausoleum here, included in the state's national heritage list.
Tomb of the Prophet Daniel in Susa / Robert Wielgorski, Wikipedia
However, more than one city is vying to provide pilgrims and tourists with the opportunity to see the tomb of the prophet. In Uzbek Samarkand, the Khoja Doniyor mausoleum is installed above an 18-meter crypt.
It is believed that the remains of Daniel (in the Muslim tradition Daniel or Daniyar), brought here in the 15th century by the conqueror Tamerlane, rest there. In Islam, it is customary to honor the biblical prophet, and believers are accustomed to expecting miracles from his grave. One of them happened in 2000, when a half-century-old pistachio tree, which grew near the crypt and had long since dried up, suddenly suddenly sprouted new shoots.
Memory
In icons, Daniel, as a rule, holds in his hands a scroll with inscribed words of prophecy. The saint is most often depicted at a young age. The first surviving images date back to the 3rd century AD. e. On Byzantine frescoes and mosaics you can see the prophet surrounded by three youths or thrown into a den of lions.
Orthodox icon of the prophet Daniel / ABC of faith
Ancient icons of the Old Testament righteous man are kept in the St. Daniel Monastery in Moscow and the Nativity Church in Veliky Novgorod. In honor of Daniel, Orthodox churches are being built in different cities; in Novosibirsk, the church was erected under Emperor Alexander III in 1898.
Dozens of books and studies are devoted to the life of the saint and the interpretation of his writings. Biblical theologians and historians have been writing about him for many years. In 2013, American director Anna Celinski shot an hour and a half feature film “The Book of Daniel”, dedicated to the biography of the prophet. The historical drama carefully interprets the biblical plot and places emphasis on the hero's moral choice between serving the king and loyalty to God.
Notes
- Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam and Judaism
, BM Wheeler,
Daniel
: “Daniel is not mentioned by name in the Qur'an but there are accounts of his prophethood in later Muslim literature...” - Ephraim the Syrian, St.
Creations. T.6. Reprint edition. - M.: Publishing house “Father's House”, 1995. // Creations like those among the saints of our Father Ephraim the Syrian. Spiritual and moral scriptures. — Sergiev Posad. Printing house St.-Tr. Sergius Lavra, 1901, p. 51-89. - John Chrysostom, St.
Complete collection of the works of St. John Chrysostom in twelve volumes, vol. 6, Book two. - M.: St. John the Chrysostom publishing house, 2000, chapter 2. - Hamd Al Muammar, 1988, p. 130.
