Daniel the Stylite

Daniel the Stylite (409–93), hermit. Born of devout parents at Maratha, near Samosata in Mesopotamia, Daniel left home at the age of twelve and offered himself to a nearby monastery. After consulting his parents, the abbot received him. Some years later Daniel travelled with him to Antioch, where a visit to Simeon Stylites inspired him with an example to follow for life. The abbot died soon afterwards; the monks wished Daniel to succeed him but he refused. Instead he visited Simeon again, stayed for a fortnight in the monastery built close to his pillar, and climbed a ladder to receive spiritual direction from the holy man.

Daniel then set out on pilgrimage to Palestine, but was dissuaded because of political unrest. Instead he settled near Constantinople; first he spent seven days in the oratory of St. Michael at Anaplus, then he made his hermitage in a disused temple, reputedly inhabited by devils, at Philempora (Roumeli-Hissar). These were believed to be responsible for losses of ships at sea and repeated attacks at night on passers-by. Daniel locked himself in and communicated with the outside world only through a small window. Hideous noises and apparitions, with attacks by phantoms carrying swords, were experienced by Daniel as part of the single combat with devils expected of hermits. He stayed there for nine years, helped by the patriarch Anatolius, who was healed from serious illness reputedly by Daniel's prayers.

After the death of Simeon Stylites (459), Daniel inherited both his cloak and his way of life. Other relics of Simeon reached Constantinople some years later. Daniel with friends' help set himself up on a pillar overlooking the Bosphorus a few miles from the city. He nearly froze to death one night, after which the Emperor built him a better home of two pillars fastened together, on top of which were a balustrade and a shelter. Even this was in danger of being destroyed in storms until it was strengthened after swaying dangerously. Here Daniel was ordained priest by the patriarch Gennadius, who read the prayers beneath the pillar and then climbed the ladder to lay hands on him and give Communion.

Daniel's long life in his extraordinary regime was mainly uneventful. He was often visited by troubled people in search of his advice and prayers, especially the sick who were sometimes cured by his laying hands on them or anointing them with the oil which burnt before his icons and relics. He preached regularly in the afternoon, his theme frequently being the love of God and of one's neighbour, especially shown in almsgiving, as well as ‘the everlasting condemnation which is the lot of sinners’.

In 465 Daniel foretold that there would be a disastrous fire: it destroyed several regions of the city. This event brought Daniel into contact with the Emperor Leo I, who visited him frequently and gave him relics. He also used to show him off to visitors as one of the wonders of the empire. Leo died in 474. His successor Zeno appreciated Daniel no less. But Basiliscus, brother of the dowager empress, usurped the throne and protected the heretics, especially the Euthychians. Daniel said that God would overthrow this government and added other messages too inflammatory to be passed on.

Hoping to discredit him, Daniel's heretical enemies bribed a notorious prostitute called Basiane to say that she had seduced Daniel when his disciples brought her up the ladder to be healed of a simulated illness. Much controversy followed which was ended only when she was ‘possessed by a devil’ and revealed the names and ranks of those who had bribed her. Meanwhile the patriarch Acacius persuaded Daniel to ‘come to the rescue of the Church’. He came down from his pillar, was carried in a chair as he was unable to walk, and went to visit Basiliscus, who refused to see him. The reign of Basiliscus was soon ended by the return of Zeno, who promptly revisited Daniel.

Daniel's last discourse seven days before his death was impressive. Strong biblical inspiration pervaded his summary on the Creation and Redemption. He promised his disciples that God would strengthen them and keep them from evil: ‘He will keep your faith in him firm and immovable if you continue in unity with each other and in perfect love…Do not neglect hospitality: never separate yourselves from your holy mother the Church; turn away from all causes of offence and from the tares of heretics…and now I bid you farewell.’ The noise of the monks' lamentation sounded ‘like a clap of thunder’. The patriarch Euphemius climbed the ladder, announced that Daniel was still alive and gave him the viaticum. Soon afterwards he died. His hair was four cubits long and his beard three. His knees were drawn up to his chest and his heels and legs to his thighs. When his body was straightened, his bones cracked so loudly that an accident was feared. His body, attached to a plank, was shown to the faithful before being buried in the chapel at the foot of his column.

In life and death Daniel was an outstanding example of the holy man in antiquity. He spent twenty-five years in a monastery and thirty-three on a series of columns. He prayed for all men, instructed them in what was necessary for salvation, counselled them not to be covetous, showed hospitality to all, yet refused all presents. All in all, however, the comment of monastic writers on other practices as ‘worthy of admiration, not imitation’ seems appropriate for Daniel's chosen way of life. Feast: 11 December.

Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.

• Text of full and accurate contemporary Life in H. Delehaye, Les Saints Stylites (1923) and in Anal. Boll., xxxii (1913), 121–229; tr. E. Dawes and N. H. Baynes, Three Byzantine Saints (1948); Life by Metafrastes in P.G., cxvi. 969–1037; for political incidents in the Life see E.H.R., xl (1925), 397–402; B.L.S., xii. 95–8