Saint Daniel of Serbia, the only son of rich and noble parents, was a close associate of the Serbian king Stefan Urosh Milutin. Having abandoned his secular career, he took monastic vows from the abbot of the monastery in the name of St. Nicholas in the town of Konchul on the banks of the Ibra River.
The ascetic life of the monk Daniel was an example for all the brethren. Archbishop Eustathius of Serbia ordained him as a presbyter and received him into his cell. When the time came to choose an abbot for the Hilendar monastery on Holy Mount Athos, Saint Daniel received the appointment. The saint had to be abbot at that most difficult time for the Holy Mountain, when the crusaders expelled from Palestine, mixing with the Arabs, plundered and plundered the Athos monasteries, “not sparing any shrine.” Saint Daniel bravely stayed in the Hilendar monastery, which endured assaults, siege, and famine.
When peace reigned on the Holy Mountain, the saint resigned as abbess and retired to complete silence in the cell of Saint Sava of Serbia (in Kareya). During the internecine war between Uros Milutin and his brother Stefan Dragutin, the ascetic was summoned to Serbia and reconciled the brothers. In his homeland, Daniel was consecrated Bishop of Bansk and made rector of the famous monastery of St. Stephen - the royal treasury. Having completed the construction of the cathedral church in Bansk in the name of the holy Apostle and Archdeacon Stephen, Saint Daniel again returned to his monastic exploits on the Holy Mountain.
Another time, the saint was called from Athos in 1325 for his elevation to the archbishop of Serbia, which took place on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The celebration was attended by Archpriest of the Holy Mountain Garvasius and the Svyatogorsk elders. Archbishop Daniel was an example of piety, a wise archpastor. Complete non-covetousness, tireless care and labor for the needs of the Church and flock and the splendor of the holy churches distinguished his holy ministry. In 1335, in Deči, the saint erected a church in honor of the Ascension of the Lord, one of the best Christian monuments in Serbia. Having collected information about the past of Serbia, the saint compiled a “Genealogy”, where he described the life of Serbian rulers and Serbian high priests. During his lifetime, Saint Daniel was awarded the gift of miracles and healings. After fourteen years of archbishop's service, Saint Daniel reposed in the Lord on December 19, 1338.
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Prmch. Constantius the Russian, Hierom. († 1743, commemorated December 26)