Daniel the Stylite
Venerable
He was born in the village of Vifara, near the city of Samasata in Mesopotamia. His mother, Martha, was barren for a long time and in her prayers vowed to dedicate her son to the Lord. At the age of 12, without telling anyone, he left for a monastery. His parents, upon discovering his whereabouts, came to the monastery, where the abbot tonsured him into the Angelic order. Blessed Daniel lived a life of seclusion and then withdrew to the Thracian wilderness, where he built a pillar and spent 33 years on it. People, the unfortunate and the sick, flocked to him, and all received help and healing. He possessed the gift of grace-filled speech, guiding many on the path of life correction. He reposed at the age of 80 (circa 489–490 AD).
