Venerable Daniel of Scetis

Life

Abbot of the famous Scetis of Egypt. A disciple of Saint Arsenius and a teacher of many. Many of his sayings and teachings are like guiding stars for monks. Once when barbarians attacked Scetis, the brethren called upon him to flee with them. He answered them: "If God does not care for me, what is the use of living?!" Daniel also said: "The more thy body grows fat, the more thy soul grows lean." He struggled in the cenobium for forty years, and then, in the year 420, he withdrew into the desert. He happened to be in Alexandria when a wicked father-in-law killed his daughter-in-law because of her chastity, the holy Thomais (see April 13), and he with his disciple buried this sufferer.