Feast Day: December 17th
& Sunday of the Holy Forefathers of Christ (Sunday between 11th-17th of December)
The Life of Prophet Daniel and the Three Youths: But an Angel of God appeared in the furnace and cooled the fire so that the children walked around the furnace unharmed by the fire, singing: “Blessed art Thou, Lord God of our fathers”… Daniel was twice thrown into the lions’ den because of his faith in the One, Living God, and both times the Lord saved him and he remained alive…
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According to Holy Tradition, the Holy Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths: Ananias, Azarias and Misael arose and appeared to many at the time of the Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayers
Apolytikion: Great are the achievements of faith! In the furnace of flame, as by the water of rest, the Three Holy Children rejoiced. And the Prophet Daniel proved a shepherd of lions as of sheep. By their Prayers, O Christ Our God, save our Souls.
Kontakion: Since your pure and hallowed heart had been made pure by the Spirit, it became His dwelling-place and clearest prophecy’s vessel; for you did behold things far off as near and present, and when cast into the den, you did muzzle lions; for which cause, O blessed Prophet, glorious Daniel, we all revere you in faith.
Hymn of Praise, by Saint Nikolai Velimivorich: Whoever fears the True God is not afraid of men or demons. The Lord rewards faithful servants and guards them from every evil. Among the lions, Holy Daniel remained unharmed; In the fiery furnace, the Three Youths remained alive; In the midst of the fire, they Glorified God, with an Angel, God’s messenger. Like Noah in the evil world, like Holy Lot in wild Sodom, and like Joseph in decadent Egypt, so Daniel in the middle of Babylon remained faithful and righteous with three of his young friends: Ananias and Azarias and the faithful young Misael. The tortures came and the tortures passed. The Martyred were gloriously glorified in the Immortal Kingdom of Christ.
Verse to Daniel: Now you see God in reality on His throne, being beheaded Daniel, and not in a vision as of old.
Verse to the Three Youths: The Three Children shed their blood in a foreign place, like the fire beforehand, now they are led to the sword.
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“A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘How should a man behave?’ The old man said to him, ‘Look at Daniel: no-one found anything in him to complain about except for his prayers to the Lord his God.'” – Abba Poemen the Great
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Saint Cyril of Alexandria said that Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths lived to old age in Babylon and were beheaded for the True Faith. When they beheaded Ananias, Azarias stretched out his cloak and caught his head; following this, Misael caught Azarias’s head and Daniel caught Misael’s head. An Angel of God translated their Holy bodies to Judea, to Mount Gebal, and placed them under a rock.
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Hymn of the Three Holy Youths, from the Great Vespers of Holy Saturday:
Praise the Lord, and highly exalt Him, unto the ages.
Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord Angels of the Lord, Heavens of the Lord; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord all you waters above the Heavens, all you powers of the Lord; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord sun and moon, stars of Heaven; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord, every shower and dew, all the winds; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord fire and warmth, cold and heat; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord dews and snows, ice and cold; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord frosts and snows, lightnings and clouds; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord light and dark, nights and days; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord Earth, mountains and hills, and all that grow in it; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord springs, seas and rivers, whales and all that move in the waters; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord all you birds of the air, beasts and cattle; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord you sons of men. Let Israel bless the Lord; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord Priests of the Lord, servants of the Lord; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord spirits and Souls of the just, Holy and humble of heart; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord Ananias, Azarias and Misael; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
Bless the Lord Apostles, Prophets and Martyrs of the Lord; praise, and highly exalt Him to all the ages.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, We praise the Lord and highly exalt him unto the ages. Both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Praise the Lord, and highly exalt Him, unto the ages. We praise, bless and Worship the Lord, praising and highly exalting Him unto the ages. We praise the Lord and highly exalt Him unto the ages.”