Daniil Sihastrul

Daniil's cave.

Entrance to Daniil's cave.

Daniil Sihastrul (Romanian for "Daniel the Hesychast"; was a renowned Romanian Orthodox spiritual guide, advisor of Stephen the Great, and hegumen of Voroneț monastery. Canonized by the Romanian Ortodox Church in 1992, he is commemorated on December 18.^[1]

Biography

A contemporary of Stephen the Great (1457-1504) Daniil Sihastrul was born near the beginning of the 15th century in a village near, Rădăuți, with the baptismal name Dumitru. At 16 he was tonsured a monk with the name of David at Bogdana monastery in Rădăuți.

Some time later, he retreated to the "Sfântul Laurențiu" near the village of Vicovu de Sus. Feeling the need for greater solitude, he took upon himself the Great Schema, taking the schematic name of Daniil, and retreating into a densely forested area of the Vițăuvalley near modern-dayPutna. There he found a rock into which he carved a chapel. To this day one can see the narthex, naos, and altar, as well as an underground room, also carved out of the rock, in which the saint dwelled.Stephen the Great came here in 1451, after the death of his father Bogdan II, at Reuseni. Daniil prophesised that Stephen would soon become king of Moldova, which did occur in 1457.

At the urging of Daniil Sihastrul, Stephen the Great builds Putna Monastery in 1466. After its consecration in 1470, Daiil withdraws to Voroneț, on the banks of the Voroneț river, by Șoimului rock, where he continues his monastic life.

At Voroneț he is again visited by Stephen the Great, after the Battle of Valea Albă in 1476, seeking advice. Daniil Sihastrul advises him to continue battling the Turks, forseeing that he would triump. To commemorate this victory in 1488 the ruler commissions Voroneț monastery. After its consecration, Daniil moves from his hermitage to the monastery. He spends the latter part of his life here, being elected as hegumen. He dies in 1496and is buried in the church at Voroneț monastery. On his tomb stone, carved according to the wishes ofStephen the Great is written: "This is the tomb of our father David, the schema-monk Daniil".

Daniil Sihastrul ignited a hermit movement in northern Moldova, havin many novicesin the woods surrounding Voroneț,as well as at the hermitages and monasteries in its surroundings. He encouraged Stephen the Great to fight for the defense of Christendom and to build holy places.

Considered a saint ever sincehis life time, being credited with healing the sick, exorcising demons, and removing suffering.^[2]

References

1. Pr. conf. dr. Mihai Săsăujan - "Sfinții români conturează identitatea locală ortodoxă, cu specificul ei național". În "Ziarul Lumina" din 6 iunie 2010.
2. Emil Preda - "Dicționar al sfinților ortodocși" (Ed. Lucman, București, 2000), p. 71-72

• Walsh, Michael. A New Dictionary of Saints: East and West, p. 146. Liturgical Press, 2007, ISBN 0-8146-3186-X.