Saint Daniel Katounakiotis of Smyrna ( el, Δανιήλ Κατουνακιώτης ο Σμυρναίος, also known as Daniel of Katounakia; born Dimitrios Dimitriadis, el, Δημήτριος Δημητριάδης) (
Smyrna
Smyrna ( ; grc, Σμύρνη, Smýrnē, or , ) was a Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to promi ...
, 1846 –
Mount Athos
Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...
, 8 September 1929) was a Greek Orthodox monk who lived on
Mount Athos
Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...
. He was canonized as a saint by the
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople ( el, Οἰκουμενικὸν Πατριαρχεῖον Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, translit=Oikoumenikón Patriarkhíon Konstantinoupóleos, ; la, Patriarchatus Oecumenicus Constanti ...
in 2020. His feast is commemorated on
September 7
Events Pre-1600
* 70 – A Roman army under Titus occupies and plunders Jerusalem.
* 878 – Louis the Stammerer is crowned as king of West Francia by Pope John VIII.
*1159 – Pope Alexander III is chosen.
*1191 – Third Cr ...
.
Today, he is known as the founder of the , which is still currently located in
Katounakia
Katounakia ( el, Σκήτη Κατουνάκια) is an Eastern Orthodox skete of the community of Mount Athos that is subordinate to the Great Lavra. The skete is located between Little Saint Anne's Skete and Karoulia. The skete consists of 22 ...
at the southernmost tip of the Athos peninsula.
Early years
He was born in
Smyrna
Smyrna ( ; grc, Σμύρνη, Smýrnē, or , ) was a Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to promi ...
(now
İzmir
İzmir ( , ; ), also spelled Izmir, is a metropolitan city in the western extremity of Anatolia, capital of the province of the same name. It is the third most populous city in Turkey, after Istanbul and Ankara and the second largest urban agglo ...
in western
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
) in 1846. He was the youngest son of a large family and graduated with honors from the
Evangelical School of Smyrna
The Evangelical School ( el, Ευαγγελική Σχολή) was a Greek educational institution established in 1733 in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire, now Izmir, Turkey. The school, initially an Orthodox Church-approved institution, attracted major fi ...
, the educational institution of the Greek community of Smyrna.
When he was 19, desiring to become a monk, he visited various monasteries in
Peloponnesia
The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmus of Corinth land bridge which ...
and on the islands of
Hydra
Hydra generally refers to:
* Lernaean Hydra, a many-headed serpent in Greek mythology
* ''Hydra'' (genus), a genus of simple freshwater animals belonging to the phylum Cnidaria
Hydra or The Hydra may also refer to:
Astronomy
* Hydra (constel ...
,
Tinos
Tinos ( el, Τήνος ) is a Greek island situated in the Aegean Sea. It is located in the Cyclades archipelago. The closest islands are Andros, Delos, and Mykonos. It has a land area of and a 2011 census population of 8,636 inhabitants.
Tinos ...
,
Paros
Paros (; el, Πάρος; Venetian: ''Paro'') is a Greek island in the central Aegean Sea. One of the Cyclades island group, it lies to the west of Naxos, from which it is separated by a channel about wide. It lies approximately south-east of ...
, and
Ikaria
Icaria, also spelled Ikaria ( el, Ικαρία), is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea, 10 nautical miles (19 km) southwest of Samos. According to tradition, it derives its name from Icarus, the son of Daedalus in Greek mythology, who was b ...
, where he met various Orthodox elders.
St. Panteleimon Monastery
In
Paros
Paros (; el, Πάρος; Venetian: ''Paro'') is a Greek island in the central Aegean Sea. One of the Cyclades island group, it lies to the west of Naxos, from which it is separated by a channel about wide. It lies approximately south-east of ...
, Daniel met St.
Arsenios of Paros ( el, Αρσένιος της Πάρου ''or'' ; d. 1877). In response to the young Dimitrios' request to stay and practice with him, St. Arsenios of Paros recommended him to go to the then famous and flourishing
St. Panteleimon Monastery
Saint Panteleimon Monastery (russian: Монастырь Святого Пантелеймона; el, Μονή Αγίου Παντελεήμονος, ''Moní Agíou Panteleímonos''), known as Rossikon (russian: Россикон, ''Rossikon''; ...
on
Mount Athos
Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...
. He became a monk at St. Panteleimon Monastery in 1866, where he was held in esteem by the Greek abbot of the monastery and the other, mostly Greek monks. The monk Daniel, during this period, served as secretary of the monastery.
From 1874 to 1875, Russian monks tried to control
St. Panteleimon Monastery
Saint Panteleimon Monastery (russian: Монастырь Святого Пантелеймона; el, Μονή Αγίου Παντελεήμονος, ''Moní Agíou Panteleímonos''), known as Rossikon (russian: Россикон, ''Rossikon''; ...
, resulting in quarrels and tensions. As a result, the Greek monks left, among them the monk Daniel who moved to
Little St. Anne's Skete.
In Thessaloniki
Due to the tensions at
St. Panteleimon Monastery
Saint Panteleimon Monastery (russian: Монастырь Святого Пантелеймона; el, Μονή Αγίου Παντελεήμονος, ''Moní Agíou Panteleímonos''), known as Rossikon (russian: Россикон, ''Rossikon''; ...
, Daniel was summoned to the
Ecumenical Patriarchate
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople ( el, Οἰκουμενικὸν Πατριαρχεῖον Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, translit=Oikoumenikón Patriarkhíon Konstantinoupóleos, ; la, Patriarchatus Oecumenicus Constanti ...
and was punished with permanent removal from Mount Athos. He was sent to Metropolitan
Joachim of Thessaloniki (who later became Ecumenical Patriarch
Joachim III of Constantinople
Joachim III the Magnificent ( el, Ιωακείμ Γ' ο Μεγαλοπρεπής; 30 January 1834 – 26 November 1912) was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1878 to 1884 and from 1901 to 1912.
Joachim was born in Istanbul in 183 ...
) who, recognizing the injustice, suggested that he stay in a monastery of the
Metropolis of Thessaloniki
The Metropolis of Thessaloniki ( el, Ιερά Μητρόπολις Θεσσαλονίκης) is a Greek Orthodox metropolitan see based in the city of Thessaloniki in Central Macedonia, Greece. It is part of the so-called "New Lands", belonging to ...
. Thus, Daniel chose the Monastery of
St. Anastasia Pharmakolytria ( el,
Μονή Αγίας Αναστασίας Φαρμακολύτριας) in
Vasilika, Thessaloniki
Vasilika ( el, Βασιλικά) is a community and a municipal unit of the Thermi municipality. Before the 2011 local government reform the municipal unit of Vasilika was an independent municipality, with the respective community being the seat. ...
. There, Daniel contributed to the revitalization of the monastery by introducing the Athonite rite in fasting and services. Since the Russian monks' deconsecration of
St. Panteleimon Monastery
Saint Panteleimon Monastery (russian: Монастырь Святого Пантелеймона; el, Μονή Αγίου Παντελεήμονος, ''Moní Agíou Panteleímonos''), known as Rossikon (russian: Россикон, ''Rossikon''; ...
and the successful appointment of the Russian Abbot Makarios, Daniel's exile was overturned. He was allowed return to Mount Athos, but not to St. Panteleimon Monastery.
Return to Mount Athos
Returning to
Mount Athos
Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...
, he stayed for about five years at the Holy Monastery of
Vatopedi
The Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi ( el, Βατοπέδι, ) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos, Greece. The monastery was expanded several times during its history, particularly during the Byzantine period and in the 18th an ...
, where he was said to have been miraculously cured of
renal colic
Renal colic is a type of abdominal pain commonly caused by obstruction of ureter from dislodged kidney stones. The most frequent site of obstruction is the vesico-ureteric junction (VUJ), the narrowest point of the upper urinary tract. Acute ob ...
. He was sent from the Monastery of
Vatopedi
The Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi ( el, Βατοπέδι, ) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos, Greece. The monastery was expanded several times during its history, particularly during the Byzantine period and in the 18th an ...
to his hometown, Smyrna, to settle the affairs of the monastery's
metochion
A ''metochion'' or ''metochi'' ( gr, μετόχιον, metóchion or gr, μετόχι, metóchi; russian: подворье, podvorie) is an ecclesiastical embassy church within Eastern Orthodox tradition. It is usually from one autocephalous or ...
there. He remained in Smyrna for nine months. The Metropolitan
Meletius of Smyrna was impressed by Daniel, and offered him the opportunity to remain in Smyrna and be ordained bishop as his assistant. However, Daniel refused, as he wanted to live a contemplative life, and thus returned to Mount Athos. In 1881, he established his hut in
Katounakia
Katounakia ( el, Σκήτη Κατουνάκια) is an Eastern Orthodox skete of the community of Mount Athos that is subordinate to the Great Lavra. The skete is located between Little Saint Anne's Skete and Karoulia. The skete consists of 22 ...
on Mount Athos, which was the foundation for the present-day retreat of the Danieleian (or Danielaioi/Daniilei) Brotherhood in Katounakia.
Daniel practiced the art of
hagiography
A hagiography (; ) is a biography of a saint or an ecclesiastical leader, as well as, by extension, an adulatory and idealized biography of a founder, saint, monk, nun or icon in any of the world's religions. Early Christian hagiographies migh ...
and handed it down to his brotherhood, which still practices it today. He is also known for his essays and hundreds of letters on spiritual and theological matters.
Daniel was spiritually connected with St.
Nectarios of Pentapolis, with Elder , and with Elder Theodosia (Abbess of
Kechrovouni Monastery in
Tinos
Tinos ( el, Τήνος ) is a Greek island situated in the Aegean Sea. It is located in the Cyclades archipelago. The closest islands are Andros, Delos, and Mykonos. It has a land area of and a 2011 census population of 8,636 inhabitants.
Tinos ...
), the writer (later Monk Andronikos), whom Daniel helped in his monastic orientation, and with many other spiritual figures of his time. In the 1920s,
Joseph the Hesychast
Saint Joseph the Hesychast ( el, Άγιος Ιωσήφ ο Ησυχαστής; born Francis Kottis, el, Φραγκίσκος Κόττης; Lefkes, Paros, February 12, 1897 – Mount Athos, August 15, 1959) was a Greek Orthodox monk and elder who ...
became his disciple.
One of his disciples was Elder
Kallinikos the Vigilant (also known as Kallinikos the Hesychast; died 1930).
He died on
8 September
Events Pre-1600
* 617 – Battle of Huoyi: Li Yuan defeats a Sui dynasty army, opening the path to his capture of the imperial capital Chang'an and the eventual establishment of the Tang dynasty.
*1100 – Election of Antipope Theodo ...
1929, on the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
Canonization
On 20 October 2019, at the Protaton Church in
Karyes on Mt. Athos,
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Bartholomew ( el, Βαρθολομαῖος, ; tr, Bartholomeos; born 29 February 1940) is the 270th Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch, since 2 November 1991. In accordance with his title, he is regarded as the ''primus inte ...
announced the
beatification
Beatification (from Latin ''beatus'', "blessed" and ''facere'', "to make”) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their nam ...
of four great 20th-century Athonite elders, including:
Elder Joseph the Hesychast, Three Other 20th-Century Athonite Elders Canonized
'' Orthodox Christianity. Mt. Athos, October 21, 2019.
* Daniel of Katounakia (died 1929)
* (died 1957)
*
Joseph the Hesychast
Saint Joseph the Hesychast ( el, Άγιος Ιωσήφ ο Ησυχαστής; born Francis Kottis, el, Φραγκίσκος Κόττης; Lefkes, Paros, February 12, 1897 – Mount Athos, August 15, 1959) was a Greek Orthodox monk and elder who ...
(died 1959)
*
Ephraim of Katounakia
Saint Ephraim of Katounakia or Efrem/Ephraim Katounakiotis ( el, Εφραίμ Κατουνακιώτης; born Evangelos Papanikitas () in Abelochori, 6 December 1912 – Mount Athos, 27 February 1998) was an Orthodox monk who lived on Mount Atho ...
(died 1998)
He was canonized as a saint on 9 March 2020, along with the three other monks listed above.
See also
*
Joseph the Hesychast
Saint Joseph the Hesychast ( el, Άγιος Ιωσήφ ο Ησυχαστής; born Francis Kottis, el, Φραγκίσκος Κόττης; Lefkes, Paros, February 12, 1897 – Mount Athos, August 15, 1959) was a Greek Orthodox monk and elder who ...
References
External links
*
Daniel Katounakiotis at OrthodoxWiki
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daniel Katounakiotis
1846 births
1929 deaths
19th-century Christian saints
19th-century Christian mystics
20th-century Christian saints
20th-century Christian mystics
Christian ascetics
Athonite Fathers
Eastern Orthodox mystics
Eastern Orthodox monks
Greek saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Hesychasts
Smyrniote Greeks
People associated with St. Panteleimon Monastery
People associated with Vatopedi