Hieroschemamonk Daniil
Hieroschemamonk Daniil (Tudor) (1896–1962). Rarău Skete, Sucaeva Conty
The life and spiritual labors of Hieroschemamonk Daniil (Tudor) are little known to most. He was born in Bucharest on December 22, 1896, to educated and Christ-loving parents, Alexander and Sophia, and from his youth he was distinguished by high culture and religiosity. He was also possessed of a literary gift and composed solemn hymns to the Most Pure Theotokos and the Most Holy Trinity, the most beloved of which was his akathist to the Burning Bush, full of spiritual sweetness.
In 1945, the Burning Bush movement for spiritual renewal was founded in Antim Monastery in Bucharest, gathering numerous theologians, writers, monks, and simple lovers of Christ.
In 1948, he entered Krasna Skete in Gorj County and received the name Agafon in monastic tonsure. Later, he was ordained a hieromonk by Metropolitan Firmilian of Oltenia. In 1949–1952, he was a monk of Antim Monastery in Bucharest. In 1952–1953, he labored in Sihăstria Monastery in Neamț County, where he was clothed in the great angelic order of the schema, receiving the name Daniil. He was a great worker and teacher of the Jesus Prayer, exhorting many—both monastics and laymen—to learn this high spiritual prayer.
Then he entered the brotherhood of Slatina Monastery in Suceava County, headed by Archimandrite Cleopa (Ilie), and was named Abbot of Rarău Skete, which belonged to this monastery. During the four years of his abbacy, he spiritually adorned this skete, comforting and teaching both the monks and lay believers who went there.
In 1958, he was arrested and imprisoned in Ayud—the most severe prison in Romania, where thousands of priests, monastics, simple Christians, and representatives of the intelligentsia of all ages suffered. Hieroschemamonk Daniil also suffered there for four years, enduring many beatings, sufferings, much hunger, and all kinds of humiliation. But strengthened by the unceasing prayer of the heart that he had practiced for many years and remembering the Cross of Christ and His sufferings, he courageously endured everything in the hope of salvation, exhorting and comforting his fellow sufferers.
For Hieroschemamonk Daniil and all those who suffered for the name of Christ, prison was the highest school of repentance and spiritual growth in their lives. In November 1962, the martyr Daniil, sick and sensing his approaching death, secretly confessed to a priest then communed of the Body and Blood of the Lord, miraculously brought by one of the guards, and peacefully commended his spirit into the hands of Christ.
His body was buried in a common grave in the prison cemetery together with tens of thousands of other Christians who were condemned to death, the location of whose graves remains unknown to this day.
O Lord, number Hieroschemamonk Daniil and all Orthodox confessors who have suffered for Your name among the saints!
