The Beginning of Wisdom Is the Fear of the Lord (A Poem by Venerable Daniel of Katounakia)

The Beginning of Wisdom Is the Fear of the Lord

A Poem by Hieromonk Daniel the Danielite of Katounakia

(1846–1929)

Whoever acquires the fear of God within himself,
Such a one will become capable of conquering all things.

For the fear of God grants sobriety;
It grants courage, understanding, and a moderate mind.

It grants courage and great-heartedness,
And, on the contrary, before no one does he feel cowardice.

For he hopes in God, and calls upon Him,
And from every danger he is always delivered.

In afflictions and temptations he rejoices with great joy;
He never grows indignant, nor does he ever become troubled.

For he knows the blessings that endurance
Will bring forth through the temptations he patiently bears.

They are heavenly blessings, blessed life,
And joy filled with all gladness, which is eternal.

Saint Daniel of Katounakia as a Model for our Lives

St. Daniel of Katounakia (Feast Day - September 7)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Daniel of Katounakia was born in Smyrna in 1844 to pious parents. He was an excellent student and graduate of the Evangelical School of Smyrna and from his youth he longed for his complete dedication to God. Following the advice of his spiritual father, he visited various monasteries in the Peloponnese and Greek islands. In Paros, he met and became spiritually connected with Saint Arsenios of Paros, who advised him to go to the Sacred Monastery of Saint Panteleimon on the Holy Mountain, where he became a monk in 1866, and from Demetrios he was named Daniel. However, due to the conflicts between the Greek and Russian monks, the Greek monks were forced to leave the Monastery. Daniel went to the Sacred Monastery of Saint Anastasia the Pharmakolytria, in Vasilika of Thessaloniki. His arrival at this Sacred Monastery turned out to be a real blessing, since he helped in its spiritual recovery by introducing the Hagiorite typikon.

The Last Photo and the First Icon of Saint Daniel of Katounakia

The old man, bony, looks at the photographer with a stern, patient look under his wrinkled forehead. The short sleeve of his garment reveals a skeletonized wrist ending in a clenched palm. Perhaps he is holding a handkerchief in his right hand. In the background of the image, on the left, the vine has embraced the beams of the monastic cell's balcony.

The value of this photograph was pointed out by Hieromonk Justin of Simonopetra. It is the last photograph of Elder Daniel who reposed a few months later at the age of 83, on September 8, 1929.