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Catholic Saints

A statue of Saint Daniel, dressed in red and white robes, holding a palm leaf, graces the niche.

Saint Daniel

Feast Day 02/16/2013

Patronage Courage, Fortitude, Strength, Prisoners, Captives, Slaves

St. Daniel was an Egyptian who visited Christians condemned for life to slave work in the mines of Roman Cilicia, during the persecution of Maximinus.  He would go there to comfort them, and was filled with compassion for others.  Four companions, Elias, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Samuel who also wanted to comfort the condemned Christians and care for their needs, accompanied him.  

In the year 309, on their return to Egypt, they were stopped at the gates of Caesarea, Palestine, and questioned.  Upon confessing the reason for their journey to comfort the condemned Christians, he and his companions were arrested and brought before the Provincial Governor Firmilian, who interrogated them further.  Since they were accused of being Christians, and confessed to it, they were all tortured and then beheaded for not denouncing their Christianity.  St. Pamphilus was also caught up in the martyrdom, sharing in the fate.  

When Porphyry, a servant of Pamphilus, demanded that the bodies be buried instead of being laid in the streets, he too was tortured and then burned to death.  St. Seleucus witnessed his death and applauded his constancy in the face of this terrible death.  For this public demonstration, he too was arrested by the soldiers involved in the execution and brought before the Governor.  He was beheaded for being a Christian as well.  The historian Eusebius was in Caesarea at the time, and gave a vivid account of their martyrdom by torture and beheading.  St. Daniel and companions feast day is celebrated on February 16th.  

Practical Take Away 

St. Daniel was a holy man from Egypt that went to comfort the condemned Christians who were sentenced to work in the mines until death.  Four companions, Elias, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Samuel who also wanted to comfort the condemned Christians and care for their needs, accompanied him.  Upon their return to Egypt, they were stopped and interrogated by the Governor, and found to be Christians.  They were beaten and beheaded for being Christian and their feast day is February 16th.  

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