Saint Daniel the Stylite

Life story

Daniel was born around 409 at Marutha or Bethara, a village in Upper Mesopotamia near Samosata (now in Turkey); sources do not agree on the name of the village. He entered a monastery at the age of twelve. On a journey with his abbot to Antioch he passed the place where Simeon the Stylite lived and received his blessing and encouragement. The story goes that he remained in the monastery until about the age of thirty-eight.

In 451 he retired into the ruins of a pagan temple and then set up his pillar north of Constantinople, in the district of Anaplus. After the landowner objected he appealed to Emperor Leo I and Patriarch Gennadius, and Gennadius ordained him a priest. According to his Life he spent about thirty-three years on the pillar. Leo I valued him highly, and Emperor Zeno also visited. He opposed monophysitism. He lived through the reigns of Leo, Zeno and Basiliscus.

The year of his death is not agreed: the Orthodox Church in America says he died in his eightieth year, while Britannica gives 409–493. This text therefore says only that it was late in the fifth century. His feast is 11 December. Some traditional details, such as his prophecy of a great fire in Constantinople and his foretelling of the day of his own death, are told as accounts from his Life rather than verified events.

Works and witness

• Entered a monastery at twelve and received Simeon the Stylite's blessing
• Set up his pillar near Constantinople and was ordained priest by Patriarch Gennadius
• Spent about thirty-three years on the pillar
• Received visits and gave counsel to Emperors Leo I and Zeno
• Opposed monophysitism

Saints from the same country

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Saint John of Damascus, Saints Cosmas and Damian, Saint Simeon Stylites

References

• Orthodox Church in America, “Venerable Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople” (oca.org, 11 December) – Bethara near Samosata, monastery at twelve, Simeon, 33 years on the pillar, died in his eightieth year, feast 11 December
• Britannica and Catholic Encyclopedia “Stylites”/“Samosata” (newadvent.org) – 409–493, visited by Leo and Zeno (seen via search excerpts)
• Wikipedia (English), “Daniel the Stylite” – 451 retreat, Gennadius's ordination and the anonymous Vita (Dawes & Baynes)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.