Early Life and Formation
Born around 1460 in Pereslavl-Zalessky, the future saint received the secular name Demetrius. His parents were Constantine and Theodosia, who was later tonsured as the nun Thekla. He had two brothers, Gerasim and Flor, and a sister named Xenia.
As a youth, Demetrius emulated Saint Symeon the Stylite by binding a rope around his body. According to the account, the cord embedded itself in his flesh and caused a severe infection. His mother discovered his condition, and his parents removed the rope after days of suffering and bleeding.
Around 1466, Demetrius and his brother Gerasim traveled to Borov Monastery, where Saint Paphnutius placed him under Elder Leucius of Volokolamsk, a disciple of Paphnutius and associate of Saint Joseph of Volokolamsk. Under this guidance, according to the sources, Daniel reached his spiritual maturity over ten years of training.
Priesthood and the Founding of Danilov Monastery
After his formation, Daniel returned to the Goritsky Monastery in Pereslavl, where a relative served as abbot. He was ordained a priest and attracted many who sought confession and spiritual counsel.
His brother Gerasim died at the monastery in 1507, and his brother Flor later joined him there. Daniel took it upon himself to bury the neglected, the poor, and those who died without any family. He founded a church dedicated to All Saints at a cemetery for the unknown dead, and this developed into the Danilov Monastery.
Grand Duke Vasily III released prisoners awaiting execution at Daniel's request and twice asked the saint to serve as godfather at baptisms. Before his death, Daniel received monastic tonsure into the Great Schema.
Miracles and Traditions
Historically Documented: The sources record that Daniel buried the poor and unidentified dead and founded the All Saints church and monastery on their behalf, and that Grand Duke Vasily III granted his requests, including the release of condemned prisoners.
Traditional Accounts: According to traditional accounts, Daniel performed miracles including converting water into healing kvass and multiplying flour during a famine. He is also said to have dug a well whose water possessed miraculous properties, from which pilgrims drank and bathed and the sick received healing.
Tradition also relates that a wonderworking icon of the saint was created by an iconographer named Demetrios, who himself experienced healing, and that many miracles and healings occurred before the saint's relics.
Relics & Shrines
Daniel died on April 7, 1540, at the age of 81. His incorrupt relics were recovered, the accounts of which give the year as 1625 or 1652, the latter following his appearance to the novice John Daurov.
Upon their discovery the relics were found to be incorrupt and were placed within the monastery near the altar of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Metropolitan Jonah of Rostov and Yaroslavl formally authenticated them on December 30, 1653.
The opening and authentication of his relics is commemorated annually on December 30. He is also commemorated on April 7 and July 28.
