Saint Dania was born in the year 409 AD, after years of impoverishment on his mother’s side. The Lord answered her fervent prayer and tears. The boy lived with his mother until the age of twelve. Head to a monastery next to the village. When they opened the door for him, he stood in front of the president and begged him to accept him among his monks. The president rejected Daniel's request due to his young age. Daniel threw himself at the president's feet and begged for approval of his request. Finally, the president accepted.

Daniel wore the monastic garb, and he made great progress in his devotions to asceticism, fasting, and prayer. The head of the monastery was passionate about him and never stopped praising him and the monks as well. All of this caused Daniel great distress, so he left the monastery in Mesopotamia. He went to the hermitage of Saint Simon the Stylite, about whom many had heard. When he ascended to his pillar, the saint blessed him and said to him: Be a man, Daniel, for many hardships await you. Then he placed his hand on his head, blessed him, and sent him away. So he returned to his monastery, and when the abbot died, Daniel was chosen to take his place.

He remained at the helm of the monastery for a long time, but his desire for a life of asceticism and unity prompted him to appoint an abbot in his place and he traveled towards Constantinople. When he arrived, he stayed temporarily in a small church. One day he heard people talking about a pagan temple inhabited by spirits that frightened people and sank ships at sea. So no one dares to pass through there anymore. Daniel inquired about the place and moved to it. When he entered it, he began repeating the Psalm: “The Lord is my light and my Savior, whom shall I fear?” and he began to prostrate at every corner and pray. And at night, the darkness became intense. Stones started falling in and around the place, and there were sounds, hustle and bustle.

The first and second night passed in this state without the saint tasting sleep. But he was not disturbed or afraid, but continued to pray. Then those demons left him never to return. Saint Daniel's stay in the temple of idols lasted nine years. He then left with a determination within him to follow the example of Saint Simon the Stylite. On the way, he came across a pillar, climbed it and prayed, saying: O Lord Jesus, in your holy name I enter this struggle. The news of the saint on the pillar reached all corners. People flocked to him, and the Lord performed many miracles and wonders at his hands. The stream of people coming seeking hospitalization did not stop, and no one was turning away. The rituals became difficult for his monk students, so he established a large monastery for them.

His last words to his disciples: Behold, I am going to the One who bowed down the heavens and suffered for us. He will strengthen you and preserve you. Remain firm in obedience and humility. Don't neglect hospitality. I entrust you to God, my beloved children, the Lord is with you. Saint Daniel died on the eleventh of December at the age of eighty-four. The Church in the East and the West commemorates him together on this day.