ENGLISH:
The Prophet Daniel appears in the Old Testament in the Book of Daniel as a captive carried away to Babylon by order of Nebuchadnezzar after the fall of the kingdom of Judah during the sixth century before Christ. His ministry as a prophet came late in his life. He is commemorated by the Church on the December 17.
The name Daniel is from the Hebrew and means "God is my Judge" or "God is judging."
While remaining loyal to his faith in the one God, Daniel attained a high position of the court of Nebuchadnezzar and was known for his skill in the interpretation of dreams (Daniel 1:17 and 2:14) and of mysterious handwritings on the wall. He is included in the Septuagint among the prophets and was referred to by Christ as a prophet in Mark 13:14 and in Matthew 24:15. The time and circumstances of Daniel's death are not recorded. By tradition his age at death was near 100 years. A number of places have claimed to be his place of burial, including Susa in present day Iran, Daniel's Tomb in Kirkuk in Iraq, as well as Babylon, Egypt, and Tarsus.
Historical
ca. 604 BC to 536 BC - the seventy years of the Babylonian exile of the Jews.
559 BC - Cyrus the Persian's reign begins.
556 BC
[Daniel 10:1-3] - Daniel (or Baltasar) commences a three week Passover fast (see Deut. 16:5-6) held in the first month and in Jerusalem.
[Daniel 10:4-7] - Daniel has a vision on the 24th day of that month. According to St Basil and St Hippolytos, this was of the prefiguration of the Incarnation of Christ. According to St Ephraim the Syrian and St Chrysostom, Daniel beheld a vision of an angel.
539 BC - Darius Mede begins his reign over the Chaldean kingdom (Babylon had been taken by the Medes and Persians under Cyrus in the year 539-538).
539 BC to 536 BC
[Daniel 9:1-3] - Daniel prays for the people in supplications, fasts and dons sackcloth.
536 BC - Babylonian exile of Jews is completed.
530 BC (ca.529 BC) - Cyrus the Persian dies in August.
Prophetic content (Summary)
The Vision of the Four Beasts [Dan 7]
The Son of Man, the Ancient of Days [Dan 7]
Daniel the Prophet & Ananias, Azarias, & Misail, the Three Holy Youths
The Prophet Daniel and the Three Children were all descended from the royal tribe of Judah. In the year 599 before Christ, in the reign of Joachim, who was also called Jechonias (I Chron. 3:16, and II Chron. 36:8), while yet children, these righteous ones were led away as captives into Babylon together with the other Jews by Nabuchodonosor. He singled them out from among the other captives to serve him, and renamed them thus: Daniel was named Baltazar; Ananias, Sedrach: Misail, Misach; and Azarias, Abednago. They were reared in the royal court, and taught the wisdom of the Chaldeans; and after the passage of three years, they surpassed all the Chaldean sages (Dan. 1).
Thereafter, Daniel, being still a lad, interpreted that mysterious image seen by Nabuchodonosor in a dream, an image that was composed of different metals, but was shattered and ground to dust by a certain stone which had been hewn out of a mountain without the hand of man. This vision clearly portrayed through the mountain the height of the Virgin's holiness and the power of the Holy Spirit which overshadowed her. Through the image of the Stone, Christ was portrayed, Who was seedlessly born of her, and Who by His coming as the Godman would shatter and destroy all the kingdoms of the world, which were portrayed through the image; and He would raise them that believe in Him into His Heavenly Kingdom, which is eternal and everlasting (ibid. 2:31-45). Thereupon, he signified in prophecy the time of His appearance in the Jordan, the beginning of His preaching of the Gospel, the time of His saving Passion, and the cessation of the worship according to the Mosaic Law, (ibid. 9:14-27). He portrayed most excellently the majestic and dread image of His second coming, presenting by means of words, as with living colours, the fiery throne which shall be set, the Eternal Judge Who shall sit thereon, the river of fire that shall flow forth before Him, the calling to account before the impartial judgment seat, the opened books of each ones deeds, the thousands upon thousands of them that minister to Him, and the ten thousands of them that stand in His presence (ibid. 7: 9-10). Daniel (whose name means "God is judge") was called "man of desires" by the Angels that appeared (ibid. 9:23), because he courageously disdained every desire of the body, even the very bread that is necessary for nourishment. Furthermore, he received this name because, in his longing for the freedom of those of his tribe, and his desire to know their future condition, he ceased not supplicating God, fasting and bending the knee three times a day. Because of this prayer he was cast into the den of lions, after he had been accused by his enemies as a transgressor of the decree issued through the proclamation of the king, that no one should worship or ask for anything from God or from men for thirty days, but only from the king. But having stopped the mouths of the lions by divine might, and appearing among them as though he were a shepherd of sheep, Daniel showed the impious the might of godliness (ibid. 6:1-23).
As for the Three Children, Ananias ("Yah is gracious"), Misail ("Who is what God is?), and Azarias ("Yah is keeper"), since they refused to offer adoration to Nabuchodonosor's image, they were cast into the furnace of fire. They were preserved unharmed amidst the flames - even their hair was untouched - by the descent of the Angel of the Lord, that is, the Son of God. Walking about in the furnace, as though in the midst of dew, they sang the universal hymn of praise to God, which is found in the Seventh and Eighth Odes of the Holy Psalter. And coming forth therefrom, without even the smell of the fire on their clothes (Dan. 3), they prefigured in themselves the Virgin's incorrupt giving of birth; for she, on receiving the Fire of the Godhead within her womb, was not burned, but remained virgin, even as she was before giving birth.
Therefore the Church celebrates the Three Children and Daniel on this day, on the Sunday of the Forefathers, and on the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ, since they prefigured and proclaimed His Incarnation. Furthermore, they were of the tribe of Judah, wherefrom, Christ sprang forth according to the flesh. The holy Three Children completed their lives full of days; as for the Prophet Daniel, he lived until the reign of Cyrus, King of Persia, whom he also petitioned that his nation be allowed to return to Jerusalem and that the Temple be raised up again, and his request was granted. He reposed in Peace, having lived about eighty-eight years. His prophetical book, which is divided into twelve chapters, is ranked fourth among the greater Prophets.
Apolytikion of Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths
Second Tone
Great are the accomplishments of faith. In the fountain of flame the three Holy Youths rejoiced as though they were resting by the waters. And the Prophet Daniel showed himself to be a shepherd to the lions, as though they were sheep. Through their prayers O Christ our God, save our souls.
Kontakion of Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths
Third Tone
Since thy pure and hallowed heart had been made pure by the Spirit, it became His dwelling-place and clearest prophecy's vessel; for thou didst behold things far off as near and present, and when cast into the den, thou didst muzzle lions; for which cause, O blessed Prophet, glorious Daniel, we all revere thee in faith.
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ESPAÑOL:
El profeta Daniel aparece en el Antiguo Testamento en el Libro de Daniel como un cautivo llevado a Babilonia por orden de Nabucodonosor después de la caída del reino de Judá durante el siglo VI antes de Cristo. Su ministerio como profeta llegó tarde en su vida. Es conmemorado por la Iglesia el 17 de diciembre.
El nombre Daniel es del hebreo y significa "Dios es mi Juez" o "Dios juzga."
Mientras permanecía leal a su fe en el único Dios, Daniel alcanzó una alta posición en la corte de Nabucodonosor y fue conocido por su habilidad en la interpretación de sueños (Daniel 1:17 y 2:14) y de misteriosas escrituras en la pared. Está incluido en la Septuaginta entre los profetas y Cristo se refirió a él como un profeta en Marcos 13:14 y Mateo 24:15. El tiempo y las circunstancias de la muerte de Daniel no se registran. Por tradición, su edad al morir era cercana a los 100 años. Varios lugares han afirmado ser su lugar de entierro, incluido Susa en el actual Irán, la Tumba de Daniel en Kirkuk en Irak, así como Babilonia, Egipto y Tarso.
Historial:
Cerca. 604 a. C. a 536 a. C. - los setenta años del exilio de los judíos en Babilonia.
559 aC - Comienza el reinado de Ciro el persa.
556 a. C.
[Daniel 10: 1-3] - Daniel (o Baltasar) comienza un ayuno de Pascua de tres semanas (ver Deuteronomio 16: 5-6) que se lleva a cabo en el primer mes y en Jerusalén.
[Daniel 10: 4-7] - Daniel tiene una visión el día 24 de ese mes. Según San Basilio y San Hipólito, se trataba de la prefiguración de la Encarnación de Cristo. Según San Efraín el Sirio y San Crisóstomo, Daniel tuvo la visión de un ángel.
539 aC - Darío Mede comienza su reinado sobre el reino caldeo (Babilonia había sido tomada por los medos y persas bajo Ciro en el año 539-538).
539 a.C. al 536 a.C.
[Daniel 9: 1-3] - Daniel ora por el pueblo en súplicas, ayunos y se viste de cilicio.
536 a.C. - Se completa el exilio de judíos en Babilonia.
530 a. C. (529 a. C.) - Ciro el persa muere en agosto.
Contenido profético (resumen)
La visión de las cuatro bestias [Dan 7]
El Hijo del Hombre, el Anciano de Días [Dan 7]
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