Fifteen years ago, the Orthodox Church gained a martyric Heavenly intercessor.
Fr. Daniel Sysoev’s entire life was bound up with his missionary activity and his priestly activity, and the night of November 19, 2009, was no exception. He was still in the Church of the Holy Apostle Thomas in southern Moscow late that night, ministering to those who came to him for consolation and hearing confessions.
In fact, Fr. Daniel was hearing a confession in the altar when a crazed Muslim burst into the church, demanding to see him. Fearless in Christ, Fr. Daniel came out to meet the man, who then shot him right there in the church. The zealous young priest died early the next morning, November 20, becoming a hieromartyr.
Fr. Daniel is remembered for his fervent missionary work through which he brought many people to the Orthodox faith, including pagans, atheists, Protestants, and scores of Muslims. It was his ability to preach Christ to Muslims that led to his martyrdom. Fr. Daniel had received many death threats for his work, and he knew what manner of death awaited him.
Since that night, the story of his life, teachings, and martyrdom has spread throughout the Orthodox Church, far beyond the bounds of his native Russia. Though he has yet to be formally glorified as a saint, popular veneration has produced a number of icons of him, and even an akathist.
As witness to his growing veneration, the akathist presented below was originally written in Romanian, and only then translated into Russian. This English text was translated from the Russian version.
Holy Hieromartyr Daniel, pray to God for us!
He Led His Entire Life Like a Confessor
Fr. Daniel Sysoev Through the Eyes of His Brother
Part 1. He Managed to Unite All of Moscow. Fr. Daniel Sysoev Through the Eyes of a Brother Priest.
In December 2009, just a month after the brutal slaying of the great missionary Fr. Daniel Sysoev, Moscow radio host Sergei Gerasimov dedicated an episode of his show to the martyr. Among his guests were Fr. Daniel’s brother Vasily, who offered an intimate look at him through his memories of his brother both as a child and as a tireless missionary and priest.
Fr. Daniel Sysoev
Sergei Gerasimov: Greetings, dear listeners. Today we have a mournful, somewhat gloomy program, but perhaps, in some sense, joyful. It is dedicated to the memory of the murdered Fr. Daniel Sysoev.
Vasily, please tell us a little about how he was at home, who he was, how you perceived him.
Vasily Sysoev: He was always, for us, a radiant person. We loved him very much, because he was a model in everything. He was the firstborn. He defined that extraordinary rhythm and that extraordinary height to which all of us in our family will strive now, because the death of a martyr is probably the very best, as he believed, for any Christian. In essence, he led his entire life like a confessor. There’s even a story from his childhood, when he was in first grade, in the Soviet Union in the 1980s, and he was put in front of the entire class, with children who were also soviets, raised in atheism. And the teacher asked: “So, what, you believe in God, and you know some prayers?” Of course, the whole class started laughing and starting shouting about how Gagarin went into space and didn’t see God there. And after a short pause, Fr. Daniel said: “Yes, I believe in God, and I know many prayers.” This was probably one of the first most striking examples of his life as a confessor, and at such a young stage of life. And the last stage, we saw literally just a few days ago—the martyric crown that he received from God.
He was always very kind and responsive and would do anything we asked of him—if it was for the good, of course. He rallied us around his parish. My older brother Pimen and I sang in his choir. Our younger brother Tikhon served in the altar with his blessing. Our younger sister also came quite often. She was still very young then, and mama didn’t let her go so far alone, but she came a lot and sang with us. He never forgot us, and always helped us when things were difficult. He baptized my son, and he served my wedding and Pimen’s wedding in his Church of the Apostle Thomas. We’ll always remember him, his wonderful smile. I can’t remember a single moment when he wasn’t smiling. He smiled and he joked. He was always happy, never sad. There was this remarkable time when he broke his leg, just two years ago, if I remember correctly. The situation was that the dean didn’t send a replacement priest to the parish. So he had to serve himself, because (inaudible) the services should never stop, that they are the foundation of the whole Christian life (inaudible). So he came out during the Great Entrance himself on this broken leg. I could see him walking with this crazy pain in his leg. He overcame it and was smiling. He read the appointed prayers and went back into the altar, where they sat him in a wheelchair, and he continued the Liturgy. This was the meaning of his life. He went through it all with a smile on his lips.
Fr. Daniel Sysoev
Sergei Gerasimov: It was still soviet times when your parents came to the faith. And you were born in an already-believing family?
Vasily Sysoev: Fr. Daniel was born before our parents were baptized. They were baptized together in 1979. Of course, Fr. Daniel couldn’t simply just get baptized. From childhood, he was distinguished by the gift of a certain mysticism from God. During his Baptism, he saw an angel. And he testified of this to our parents immediately, when they were going around the font and he asked them: “Do you see him?” Of course, our parents said they didn’t see anything. He told me about it many times in private conversations, how he saw some man in fiery clothing, standing next to the font. And after their Baptisms, our family began to be educated in Christianity. So, yes, Pimen and I were born in an already Orthodox family, but Fr. Daniel was born before our parents were baptized.
Sergei Gerasimov: What was the reason for his interest in Islam? Why did he choose such an extraordinary field for his missionary work? I don’t think I’ve seen anyone else doing missionary work in that particular field.
Vasily Sysoev: That’s a very interesting question. I asked him that too, as did many people. And every time, he would answer with a smile on his lips, saying, “I never wanted to deal with this stuff,” because he considered Islam to be something in between religion and satanism. He never wanted to do this, but he said that, “God directed me there, and like a disobedient child, forced me to do it. I accepted this cross with patience and faith in Him.”
Sergei Gerasimov: Did he really receive threats? Was there any pressure?
Vasily Sysoev: There was very strong pressure both on the internet and with threatening phone calls. He received threats from Islamists right up until he was murdered. I personally witnessed several attacks like this against him personally, when people came up to him and threatened to cut his throat, and so on.
Sergei Gerasimov: They would come up to him right there on the street?
Vasily Sysoev: On the street, in the mission field, and so on, and so on. For example, on Sabantuy,1 when Father was preaching at the Bitsa Equestrian Complex, some people who were obviously Wahhabis came up to him and threatened that if he didn’t leave, they would cut his throat at some point, to which he smiled sweetly and said: “I’m sorry, I can’t leave. I’m preaching the word of Christ, fulfilling His command.”
Sergei Gerasimov: And how did you learn about his murder, Vasya? How did the family take it?
Vasily Sysoev, with Fr. Daniel's widow, Matushka Julia in the background
Vasily Sysoev: I heard about it maybe half an hour later. Some of the church staff called me. I don’t want to name any names, but they told me that Fr. Daniel was shot in the head, and that he was now in the ICU. I got in touch with my father and brother when they were on their way to the church, because they jumped up immediately, of course. They only had time to grab some money. We arrived at the scene. We didn’t tell our mother right away, you understand, because we had to get all the facts straight first. The police were already there when we arrived; they didn’t let us into the church. They wouldn’t even let the priest in who wanted to get Communion to take to Fr. Daniel in the hospital. But as we later learned, it wasn’t necessary, because he had served the Divine Liturgy that day and had already communed. So we arrived to the hospital in this turmoil. There we learned that Fr. Daniel had departed to the Lord at 12:15 AM, without suffering, as we believe, because the first bullet hit him in the neck, in the carotid artery, and the killer finished him off with a controlled second shot to the head. Most likely, he didn’t feel anything, because he immediately lost consciousness from the loss of blood.
Sergei Gerasimov: Vasily, you told me about how he appeared after his death?
Vasily Sysoev: Yes, our sister talked with his oldest daughter, Justina. Her mother [Matushka Julia] said that he appeared to her one night to ask her forgiveness. And she asked him, and they forgave one another. And there were several miracles that occurred surrounding his funeral. The first miracle was connected with his vestments. It was his wish to be buried in his first vestments, which were long and very simple. However, our kind but careless altar servers had lost the cuffs and belt a year ago and couldn’t find them for a whole year. They rummaged through everything according to his instructions—the entire church—but couldn’t find them. And then, literally the next day after this tragedy, the priests had to go to the morgue to wash his body and solemnly dress him there. They went into the altar and saw lying there in the most visible place, the given cuffs, laid out carefully. The belt was also found a few hours later and was taken to the morgue where he was being vested.
Sergei Gerasimov: Vasily, tell us please, what are the current theories of the murder? And about your experience with the Interior Ministry, the FSB, and so on.
Vasily Sysoev: Right after it happened, we were taken in to the General Prosecutor’s office for questioning. They kept us there for three pointless hours—we needed to go see our mother, but they wouldn’t let us go. We had nothing new to say, of course, because we didn’t witness the crime. But we heard in passing that, of course, the main theory was that it was religious. Among others, the main theory was Islam, although they were trying all they could to silence it. When they questioned us, they asked: “Are you sure this is the handwriting of Islam? Do you think Islam could act this way?” But we, of course, had to answer that it was true that other than the Muslims, Fr. Daniel had no ardent opponents, because what he did was quite unpleasant for them. Especially unpleasant was that just a few weeks before his death, he baptized several Wahhabis, which in principle could be cause to sign his death warrant.
Fr. Konstantin Bufeev: Sorry, I’d like to clarify here—it was Wahhabis. These were not representatives of modern Russian Islam, but precisely those whom we consider to be radicals.
Vasily Sysoev: Yes, they were Wahhabis. But Fr. Daniel never separated Wahhabism from Islam. So, as far as I know, the investigation is, of course, silencing the theory about Islam however it can, so as not to cause inter-religious conflicts. Officially, they are trying to push everything onto pagans, saying they didn’t like him. And they don’t really say anything about it.
Sergei Gerasimov: But is there some investigation going on now? Do they keep you informed, or no?
Vasily Sysoev: They called our father and Fr. Daniel’s widow in for questioning today.
Sergei Gerasimov: How did Fr. Alexei handle this?
Vasily Sysoev: Fr. Alexei is carrying on quite strongly. We didn’t really expect it from him. We thought that, like any father, of course, putting ourselves in his place, both of us older brothers have sons too, who are also firstborns. And if we lost them, I’d probably go crazy. But he’s holding on. Of course, he didn’t sleep for several nights in a row—he had to take sedatives. But at the same time, he gave the most calming homily at the burial, when they brought his body into the Church of the Apostle Thomas.
Sergei Gerasimov: Vasily, it’s no secret that Church families have disagreements and confrontations between fathers and sons too. Many children who are raised in a priest’s family, especially during their transition period, revolt, like a revolution. They rebel against God too, against their education. How did Fr. Daniel grow up? How did he take your parents’ faith? Were there any disputes? Or was there just an element of absolute trust in God, without any of those age-related rough spots?
Vasily Sysoev: As far as I remember, his teenage years were very easy compared to the rest of us, because he really loved the word of God and read it from childhood. The seminarians jokingly called him “blessed,” because when they would go to his room in seminary, they would see how he was sleeping like a child, with the Sacred Scriptures lying open on his chest, which he would read until he fell asleep. So I can say that the word of God was the main source of his existence. And like a plane, he was headed for takeoff right from the very beginning. There probably wasn’t a single moment when he doubted or wanted to go in some other direction.
<…>
Additionally, I would just like to say that Fr. Daniel’s work should not end. In fact, there are still some very serious books that he wanted to publish while he was alive, which need financial assistance to publish, including his Law of God,2 his conversations that he held for people who wanted to be baptized… Among other things, of course, his main idea of building a church of the Prophet Daniel should not be forgotten. The church must be built. And I urge everyone to donate, both businessmen and politicians, and anyone who can help, because this is the cause he devoted himself to.
11/20/2020
1 A Tatar, Idel-Uralian and Bashkir national summer holiday—Trans.
2 This has since been published in both Russian and English, and can be purchased here: https://danielsysoev.com/product/the-law-of-god/.—Trans.
***
Kontakion 1
Thou didst follow Christ in all things, O holy Hieromartyr Daniel, spreading His word to all peoples; thou didst preserve pure His teachings, bestowing them upon all; thou wast vouchsafed a martyr’s death, which thou hadst praised, and now, having received rest from God in Paradise for thy labors, cease not to pray for us who sing to thee:
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Ikos 1
Thou who didst preach the Gospel of Christ unceasingly in thy life and wast granted the gift of the priesthood, fearing not those who can kill the body, but confessing Christ unto thy death, pray for us who glorify thy confession and sing to thee:
Rejoice, divinely eloquent speaker
Rejoice, tireless preacher
Rejoice, lover of Christ above all else
Rejoice, thou who didst love men and lead them to Christ
Rejoice, laborer against delusions
Rejoice, thou who didst put thy hope in God
Rejoice, destroyer of the works of the enemies of Orthodoxy
Rejoice, servant of Christ like unto the Apostle Thomas
Rejoice, confessor of God like unto the Prophet Daniel
Rejoice, guide of hosts of men to the Church of God
Rejoice, for thou didst find joy in Christ
Rejoice, thou who didst confess Him with thy life
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 2
From thy very youth thou didst strive for God, seeking the meaning of life in nothing other than His word, hearkening to the Scriptures above all, ever desiring to serve Christ; and Christ didst grant thee the gift of the priesthood, which thou didst covet with thy whole soul, and thou didst prove thyself a good shepherd of thy flock, for whose sake thou didst lay down thy life, glorifying God: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
Thy mind wast protected in thy youth, O holy one, untouched by the malicious teachings of the godless communists, and thou didst ceaselessly serve among the people, spreading the word of God and helping all, on the streets, in schools and churches, longing for the salvation of thy brethren; therefore, those whom thou didst bring to Christ now sing to thee:
Rejoice, thou who didst find joy in Christ
Rejoice, light of Christ not hidden under a bushel
Rejoice, true citizen of Heaven
Rejoice, preacher unto the farthest ends of the Earth
Rejoice, thou who dost call children to Christ
Rejoice, tireless worker among men
Rejoice, thou who didst not turn away sinners, after the example of the Savior
Rejoice, for thy love for men has shown forth fruit
Rejoice, thou who didst walk before the face of God
Rejoice, thou whom God has shown the way
Rejoice, thou who didst not stray from His path
Rejoice, for thy love was recompensed with Divine grace
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 3
Following St. Basil the Great, thou didst understand, O Hieromartyr Daniel, that true philosophy is the remembrance of death; and with this thought, seeking a good end before Christ, and teaching children to be mindful of death and the Judgment of God even in their youth, thou didst ever sing: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Thou wast a good teacher, O holy one, lovingly preaching the Gospel of Christ to children and all those deprived of the Word of God, in word and in letter, helping many turn back from every heresy and schism to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church; and thanking God for thy labors, we Christians sing to thee, O Hieromartyr:
Rejoice, good shepherd
Rejoice, O teacher
Rejoice, preacher of the Truth
Rejoice, gatherer of men in Christ
Rejoice, fighter against heresies
Rejoice, thou who didst guide the lost to the Church
Rejoice, destroyer of false philosophies
Rejoice, gatherer of treasure in Heaven
Rejoice, follower of Christ on earth
Rejoice, in the sweet love of Christ
Rejoice, true offering to men
Rejoice, tireless spiritual seeker
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 4
Thou didst understand, O holy one, that the Church of Christ is renewed through the preaching to heathen nations, and with love and the living word breathed by God, thou didst preach among those deprived of Truth, leading many to renewal through the washing of Baptism; together with those enlightened by thee, we sing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
Thou didst tirelessly oppose the evil teaching of the false prophet Muhammed, O holy father, and the pagan delusion of the Buddhists, and didst support those who had slipped into the demonic snare of occultism, loving all the brethren in Christ and desiring that all might come to true knowledge; wherefore thou art now everywhere hymned:
Rejoice, preacher to many nations
Rejoice, propagator of the Gospel of Christ
Rejoice, thou who didst serve for the Tatars in their native tongue
Rejoice, converter of hosts of Kyrgyzi
Rejoice, bearer of the word of God in Central Asia
Rejoice, thou who didst turn to the people of the Caucasus with love
Rejoice, thou who didst bring Wahhabi fanatics to Christ
Rejoice, thou who didst overcome mullahs
Rejoice, generous benefactor of Africa
Rejoice, zealous striver for Thailand
Rejoice, thou who didst save many from the worship of Satan
Rejoice, baptizer of many unbelievers
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 5
Thou didst serve Christ with thy whole soul, and didst not bow under thy bodily infirmities, O holy one; and taking no account of thy sufferings, thou didst always serve with love, united with others in the name of the Savior, Whom thou didst ever bear in they soul, chanting to Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
With spiritual love in thy soul, O holy Fr. Daniel, thou didst erect a church to the holy Apostle Thomas in Moscow, and there thou not only didst celebrate the Divine services, but also didst conduct catechetical talks; and thou didst take care for those crushed by misfortunes and spiritual suffering directing them towards Christ, Who dost grant comfort to all those who labor and are burdened, wherefore we sing to thee:
Rejoice, builder of a church to the holy Apostle Thomas
Rejoice, designer of the cathedral of the holy Prophet Daniel
Rejoice, beloved of the people of Moscow
Rejoice, thou who couldst ever be found among them
Rejoice, firm support for the wayward
Rejoice, helper of the poor
Rejoice, caretaker of thy family
Rejoice, thou who didst raise thy children in a Christian manner
Rejoice, interpreter of the Holy Scriptures
Rejoice, thou who didst lead the sorceress to repentance
Rejoice, thou who didst reveal Christ to the young Buddhist
Rejoice, loving embrace of all
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 6
Falsehoods may penetrate even into the Church in times of confusion from false doctrines, but thou, O holy one, didst zealously withstand all dogmatic errors, and shining with the grace of God, didst remove the delusions of many and didst preach the true Christ, singing: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
Being not deceived by the delusions that shook the Church, O holy one, and with unshakeable faith in the Gospel truth, thou didst show them forth as nothing; and as thou didst look to none but Christ and didst protect thy flock from false prophets and ravenous wolves, we sing to thee:
Rejoice, faithful shepherd
Rejoice, thou who didst hope in God
Rejoice, thou who didst not yield to deception
Rejoice, thou who didst forsake false humility
Rejoice, thou who didst put to shame the fear of the end times
Rejoice, rejecter of ecumenistic delusions
Rejoice, exposer of evolution as blasphemy against God
Rejoice, fighter against numerology
Rejoice, preacher of frequent Communion
Rejoice, worshiper of Christ in spirit and in truth
Rejoice, thou who didst show forth Christian courage
Rejoice, true inspiration for many
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 7
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” saith Christ the Savior, and thou, Hieromartyr Daniel, following this word, didst not capitulate before the face of threats and pains and tribulations, but didst boldly wage battle against temptations, seeking assistance from God, the Theotokos, and the saints, and didst joyously glorify God: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
Thou didst bear the cross of sickness and pain, O holy one, allowing none to see how thou didst suffer, ever seeking joy and strength in Christ; and thou didst wage incessant warfare with the attacks of invisible enemies, knowing that man is not alone, but with God, and that only by His grace can he repel the enemy. As thou didst overcome temptations with the help of Christ and the prayers of the Theotokos, we sing to thee:
Rejoice, thou who didst hope in Christ
Rejoice, thou who didst take shelter under the veil of the Mother of God
Rejoice, thou who didst bridle the tempter by true humility
Rejoice, thou who didst not renounce the sufferings of the cross
Rejoice, thou whose pains were known by few
Rejoice, thou who didst sacrifice worldly peace
Rejoice, thou who didst thereby attain to Divine peace
Rejoice, thou who didst not retreat before deadly threats Rejoice, thou whom no false slanders could bring down
Rejoice, thou who didst convert the indifference of men to zeal
Rejoice, thou who didst patiently endure attacks of malevolence
Rejoice, thou who didst endure all things with joy in God
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 8
Having been called by God to be honored with a martyr’s death, thou didst come out to thy murderer with openness and love, knowing that thy true home and treasure awaited thee in Heaven, which thou didst ceaselessly seek and desire all thy life, until the hour of thy death praising Christ: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
He who didst come to take thy earthly life, Hieromartyr Daniel, didst find thee vigilant and praying in the altar, and having passed into eternal life among those crowned by Christ, thou dost ever pray with the flock of the martyrs, glorifying God and invoking His gifts upon men, therefore we sing to thee:
Rejoice, thou who didst accept death for the sake of Christ
Rejoice, thou who didst not turn away from the malefactor’s bullets
Rejoice, conqueror of the enemy of salvation
Rejoice, fearless confessor
Rejoice, selfless lover of Christ
Rejoice, thou who didst confess Him by thy death
Rejoice, thou who dost now glorify Him in the Church Triumphant
Rejoice, true citizen of Heaven
Rejoice, thou who didst receive a crown from the hand of the Savior
Rejoice, thou who didst strengthen the Church by thy sacrifice
Rejoice, thou who dost repose in the immortal Light
Rejoice, shining star among the Righteous
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 9
Thy martyrdom is confirmed, O holy one, by thine own executioners, for they testify of thee as an enemy of their false teaching, and confess that thou wast killed for thy zeal, with which thou didst fight against the Muslims’ deceit by preaching Christ, fearlessly chanting to him: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
God hast lovingly showed men the honor which He vouchsafed thee, O Hieromartyr, and thy sacrifice for Him Who didst sacrifice Himself on the Cross, for at thy burial thy hands were as though alive, clenching the holy cross, and thy blood, poured out upon thy pectoral cross, remained red; therefore, those who rejoice in their new defender in Heaven sing to thee:
Rejoice, thou who hast shown thyself a true friend of God
Rejoice, thou who didst make the good seed to bear fruit
Rejoice, thou who hast attained unto eternal blessedness
Rejoice, thou who dost ever pray for mankind
Rejoice, those whom thou hast brought to Christ do sing to thee
Rejoice, Alexander of Chechnya doth cry to thee
Rejoice, the woman who contemplated suicide doth sing to thee
Rejoice, the Orthodox Tatars and Kyrgyz do proclaim to thee
Rejoice, faithful servant of Christ
Rejoice, thou who didst multiply thy talents
Rejoice, thou who didst strengthen the weak in Christ
Rejoice, thou who, being with Christ, didst not fear the powerful
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 10
Through you, O holy one, all who seek to be baptized or return to Orthodoxy do receive help, for having found boldness before the face of God through thy holy life and martyric end for spreading the Gospel thou dost offer up God-pleasing prayer, chanting: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
Thy help has been revealed, O Hieromartyr Daniel, for even after thy death thou hast led hosts of men to the true faith, again conquering the false teachings of pagans, atheists, and heretics by thy martyrdom; but those grateful ones who didst come to know Christ with thy help now sing to thee:
Rejoice, loving friend of those in need
Rejoice, unwavering support of Orthodox missionaries
Rejoice, gentle guide of the lost
Rejoice, thou who dost lay waste to demonic despair
Rejoice, enlightener of those who seek to know the dogmas of Orthodoxy
Rejoice, for through thy writings seekers are enlightened
Rejoice, for the example of thy martyrdom doth strengthen the weak
Rejoice, thou who dost come to the aid of all through thy prayers
Rejoice, speedy intercessor before God
Rejoice, fragrant flower of Russia
Rejoice, pride of the Tatar people
Rejoice, precious gem of the Church universal
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 11
Wondrous is God in His saints, through whom He doth grant aid to mankind at all times; in like manner, through the holy martyr Daniel Sysoev was God’s mercy revealed to us who are oppressed by a multitude of sins, for through His prophet God didst say: “I desire not the death of the wicked, but that he should turn from his ways and live.” And grateful for this inestimable gift, we sing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
Laboring together with Thee, O Lord, Thy saints are deified and testify of the boundless riches of Thy love for mankind to the world. In like manner, the Hieromartyr Daniel didst receive Thy grace, and not being careless with it, didst labor to bring Thee, O Lord, to men and to lead them to Thee; and glorifying Thee, we sing to him who wast sanctified in Thee:
Rejoice, rightly glorifying martyr
Rejoice, adornment of priests
Rejoice, thou who art wise in Christ
Rejoice, for thy zeal awaited not old age
Rejoice, thou who didst lay down thy life for Christ
Rejoice, for thou hast taken up abode in the eternal Light
Rejoice, thou who dost ever share joy in the Lord
Rejoice, thou through whom Orthodoxy is strengthened
Rejoice, thou through whom wicked teachings are brought to ruin
Rejoice, victor by the grace of God
Rejoice, light of Orthodox preaching
Rejoice, exemplar of the fullness of spiritual riches in Christ
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 12
Uniting with God, man doth acquire power to overcome all the evil works of the devil; likewise, O Hieromartyr, with humility, but with boldness and daring, thou didst use the gifts of God, wholly bringing to ruin the machinations of the enemy of salvation, and now the fallen angels fear thee yet more, as thou dost sing to the All-Holy Trinity in the Heavens: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
Thou wast blessed by God, O Hieromartyr Daniel, laboring to bring to the true faith to those who did truly desire such for themselves, purifying the Church from pernicious teachings and futile phenomena; and having crowned this holy labor with the crown of a martyr, thou didst enter into eternal life together with Christ; and we hymn thee with love:
Rejoice, thou who hast boldness before Him Who hast overcome the world
Rejoice, laborer with Christ
Rejoice, for Divine love for man hast enlightened thee
Rejoice, destroyer of devilish deeds
Rejoice, help and correction of Christians
Rejoice, rebuke of evil thoughts and idle talk
Rejoice, thou who didst fill God’s house with hosts of men
Rejoice, pure voice of true theology
Rejoice, thou who didst live among men united to Christ
Rejoice, warrior for the Kingdom of Heaven who didst lay down thy life for Christ
Rejoice, offerer of hymns of glorification before the Lord of all
Rejoice, thou who dost bring us joy and unite us with Christ
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 13
O holy Hieromartyr Daniel, who didst labor without respite for the sake of the salvation of men, who didst unshakably accept death for Christ, hear now our meager prayer which we offer unto thee, honoring thy martyrdom and glorifying God, Who didst strengthen and receive thee into the Heavenly abodes. By thy fervent prayers to Almighty God, entreat for us the forgiveness of sins and help in overcoming temptations, that we might be strengthened and enlightened to labor for the sake of our salvation and the salvation of men, that having completed our earthly pilgrimage, we might thereby be vouchsafed eternal life in Christ together with thee, that with all the saints and righteous ones we might glorify God unto the ages of ages: Alleluia! (Chanted thrice)
Ikos 1
Thou who didst preach the Gospel of Christ unceasingly in thy life and wast granted the gift of the priesthood, fearing not those who can kill the body, but confessing Christ unto thy death, pray for us who glorify thy confession and sing to thee:
Rejoice, divinely eloquent speaker
Rejoice, tireless preacher
Rejoice, lover of Christ above all else
Rejoice, thou who didst love men and lead them to Christ
Rejoice, laborer against delusions
Rejoice, thou who didst put thy hope in God
Rejoice, destroyer of the works of the enemies of Orthodoxy
Rejoice, servant of Christ like unto the Apostle Thomas
Rejoice, confessor of God like unto the Prophet Daniel
Rejoice, guide of hosts of men to the Church of God
Rejoice, for thou didst find joy in Christ
Rejoice, thou who didst confess Him with thy life
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
Kontakion 1
Thou didst follow Christ in all things, O holy Hieromartyr Daniel, spreading His word to all peoples; thou didst preserve pure His teachings, bestowing them upon all; thou wast vouchsafed a martyr’s death, which thou hadst praised, and now, having received rest from God in Paradise for thy labors, cease not to pray for us who sing to thee:
Rejoice, holy Hieromartyr Daniel!
The grave of Hieromartyr Daniel Sysoev at Kuntsevo Cemetery in Moscow