On 17 December, the day of Saint Daniel the Prophet, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania celebrates his name day. On this occasion, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The celebrating group was made up of: His Eminence Andrei, Metropolitan of Cluj, Maramures and Salaj, His Eminence Ciprian, Archbishop of Buzau and Vrancea, His Eminence Calinic, Archbishop of Arges and Muscel, His Eminence Casian, Archbishop of Lower Danube, His Grace Visarion, Bishop of Tulcea, His Grace Varsanufie Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to Archdiocese of Bucharest, His Grace Paisie Lugojeanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Timisoara, His Grace Emilian Lovisteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Ramnic, priests and deacons.
Members of the Standing Meetings of the Church National Council and of the Eparchial Council of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, archpriest of the nine deaneries of Bucharest, Prahova and Ilfov, professors of “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Theology and of the Orthodox Theological Seminary of Bucharest, priests and faithful were present in the Patriarchal Cathedral.
Saint Daniel the Prophet
Prophet Daniel, related to David, was taken slave in Babilon, together with other young men, by order of Nabucodonosor II (605 – 562 BC). He learned the language very well, the writing and all the knowledge of the time, but he never forgot the faith of his forerunners. Daniel and the young men Anania, Azaria and Misail were appointed in high positions at the emperor’s court. Having been a high official, Daniel proved his wisdom: he saved innocent Susana from death, and he interpreted the dream of the emperor about a statue that was prophesising about Messiah. Daniel wrote a book relating about the young men put into the fire oven. He was honoured by other emperors of Babilon too. He interpreted to Belsatar, the last emperor of the Chaldeans, the appearance from God of the three words: “mene, techel, ufarsin”, and he lived in great honour in the time of emperors Cirus II the Great and Darius I. He has not returned to the country together with his brothers, the Jews released by order of Cirus, because he did not want to leave those who could not go with them. He had the dream announcing him about the coming of Messiah and he was sent to the arena of lions where from he came safe and sound. He passed away when very old.
