Daniel, Metropolitan of Moscow
Encyclopedia
Daniel (before 1492 – May 22, 1547) was Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia in 1522–1539 and representative of the belligerent
ecclesiastic circles interested in alliance with the prince
ly authority.
Daniel was a monk
at Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery
and a student of Joseph Volotsky
. In 1515, he was elected hegumen
of the monastery
, which had been under the patronage
of Vasili III. When Daniel became metropolitan
, he assisted Vasili III in summoning the Prince of Seversk Vasili Shemyachich to Moscow
and imprisoning him. In 1525, bypassing the ecclesiastic canon
s, Daniel sanctioned the divorce between Vasili III and his childless wife Solomonia Saburova
, which caused general discontent in Muscovy. Daniel was the initiator of a number of church councils (sobory) between 1525 and 1531, which condemned the opponents of the Josephinians - Maximus the Greek
and Vassian Patrikeyev
. While on his deathbed, Vasili III asked Daniel to take care of his wife and son. Metropolitan solemnly blessed Ivan IV in the Cathedral of the Dormition
.
During the struggle between the Shuisky
family and prince Ivan Belsky
in 1538, Daniel supported the latter, for which he would be defrocked a year later by the Shuiskys. He died on May 22, 1547 in the Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery
, where he was incarcerated.
Daniel was the author of a number of works, condemning heretic
s in Russia
. Some historians believe that he was one of the compilers of the Chronicles of Nikon.
Belligerent
A belligerent is an individual, group, country or other entity which acts in a hostile manner, such as engaging in combat. Belligerent comes from Latin, literally meaning "to wage war"...
ecclesiastic circles interested in alliance with the prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
ly authority.
Daniel was a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
at Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery
Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery
Joseph Volokolamsk Monastery is a monastery for men, located 17 km northeast of Volokolamsk, Moscow Oblast. In the 15th and 16th century, it rivaled the Trinity as the most authoritative and wealthy monastery in Russia...
and a student of Joseph Volotsky
Joseph Volotsky
Joseph Volotsky — also known as Joseph of Volotsk or Joseph of Volokolamsk ; secular name Ivan Sanin — was a prominent caesaropapist ideologist of the Russian Orthodox Church who led the party defending monastic landownership.He is a saint ; his memory is celebrated on 9 September and 18...
. In 1515, he was elected hegumen
Hegumen
Hegumen, hegumenos, igumen, or ihumen is the title for the head of a monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church or Eastern Catholic Churches, similar to the one of abbot. The head of a convent of nuns is called hegumenia or ihumenia . The term means "the one who is in charge", "the leader" in...
of the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, which had been under the patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
of Vasili III. When Daniel became metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
, he assisted Vasili III in summoning the Prince of Seversk Vasili Shemyachich to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and imprisoning him. In 1525, bypassing the ecclesiastic canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
s, Daniel sanctioned the divorce between Vasili III and his childless wife Solomonia Saburova
Solomonia Saburova
Saint Solomonia Yuryevna Saburova was the first wife of Grand Prince Vasili III of Muscovy. She was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as Saint Sofia of Suzdal....
, which caused general discontent in Muscovy. Daniel was the initiator of a number of church councils (sobory) between 1525 and 1531, which condemned the opponents of the Josephinians - Maximus the Greek
Maximus the Greek
Maximus the Greek, also known as Maximos the Greek or Maksim Grek , was a Greek monk, publicist, writer, scholar, humanist, and translator active in Russia...
and Vassian Patrikeyev
Vassian Patrikeyev
Vassian Patrikeyev, also known as Vassian Kosoy was a Russian ecclesiastic and political figure and writer...
. While on his deathbed, Vasili III asked Daniel to take care of his wife and son. Metropolitan solemnly blessed Ivan IV in the Cathedral of the Dormition
Cathedral of the Dormition
The Cathedral of the Dormition is a Russian Orthodox church dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos. It is located on the north side of Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin in Russia, where a narrow alley separates the north from the Patriarch's Palace with the Twelve Apostles Church....
.
During the struggle between the Shuisky
Shuisky
The Princes Shuisky were a Rurikid family of boyars descending from Grand Duke Dmitry Konstantinovich of Vladimir-Suzdal and Prince Andrey Yaroslavich, brother to Alexander Nevsky. Their name is derived from the town of Shuya, of which they gained ownership in 1403. The family briefly reached the...
family and prince Ivan Belsky
Ivan Belsky
Ivan Belsky may refer to:* Ivan Vladimirovich Belsky , first prince of the Gediminid Belsky family* Ivan Feodorovich Belsky Ivan Belsky may refer to:* Ivan Vladimirovich Belsky (fl. 1422–1445), first prince of the Gediminid Belsky family* Ivan Feodorovich Belsky Ivan Belsky may refer to:* Ivan...
in 1538, Daniel supported the latter, for which he would be defrocked a year later by the Shuiskys. He died on May 22, 1547 in the Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery
Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery
Joseph Volokolamsk Monastery is a monastery for men, located 17 km northeast of Volokolamsk, Moscow Oblast. In the 15th and 16th century, it rivaled the Trinity as the most authoritative and wealthy monastery in Russia...
, where he was incarcerated.
Daniel was the author of a number of works, condemning heretic
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
s in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Some historians believe that he was one of the compilers of the Chronicles of Nikon.