Daniel II of Pec

Our father among the saints Daniel II of Pec (also Daniel, in Serbian: Свети Данило арxиепископ српски) was a Serbian archbishop from 1324 to 1337. His feast is January 2 (December 20) in the Julian Calendar). He was a nobleman and was a part of the court of St. King Milutin of Serbia (1282-1321). He left the court for the Monastery of St. Nikolas in Končul.

Life

As a monk

Archbishop St. Jevstavije took the young monk Daniel as his syncellos (cell attendant, a prominent position that also included many other duties). Soon Daniel left for Mount Athos, where he was elected igumen of Hilandar. During his tenure as igumen, Mount Athos was attacked several times by Ctaluanian pirates. Daniel was forced to take up the sword and defend the holy monastery from the pirates. Daniel retired in 1311 to the ascetic cell of St. Sava.

Bishop

Daniel received a call from Serbia to return to become Bishop of Banjska. After he accepted the post, he served as bishop until 1315. In 1314 he was present during the last moments of St. Queen Jelena, mother of King Milutin. He described her last moments in his Lives of Kings and Archbishops of Serbia. Daniel retired again and returned to his beloved Mount Athos.

When Abp. St. Sava III died on July 26, the king proposed Daniel as the new archbishop. Daniel instead proposed his disciple, St. Nikodim, for the position. St. Nikodim was elected, but the king also insisted that Daniel should remain in Serbia. To accommodate the king, he accepted the position of Bishop of Zahumlje. Daniel was at King Milutin's death bed and buried him in Banjska Monastery.

Daniel again returned to Hilandar Monastery in 1322, and Stefan Pepkalo succeeded him as Bishop of Zahumlje. When St. Nikodim died in 1324, Daniel was elected the 11th Archbishop of Serbia on September 14, 1324.

Archbishop

Abp. Daniel helped the new king, St. Stefan Uroš III, in building the magnificent Dečani Monastery. He also built the Church of the Theotokos Hodegetria in the Peć Monastery for Greek monks and the small church of St. Nicholas. Additionally, during his reign the rebuilding the Žiča Monastery was completed and the construction of the Church of St. George in Maglič and the Churches of St. Michael in Jelšika and St. Sava in Liznica were begun. He followed in the steps of St. Sava, his great predecessor.

Abp. Daniel was also one of the greatest Serbian medieval writers. His most importnant work is the Lives of Kings and Archbishops of Serbia.

St. Daniel entered the Kingdom of Heaven December 19, 1337.

Succession box: Daniel II of Pec
Preceded by: none	Bishop of Banjska 1311-1315	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Bishop of Zahumlje 1317-1322	Succeeded by: Stefan Pepkalo
Preceded by: St. Nikodim	Archbishop of Serbia 1324-1337	Succeeded by: St. Joanikije

Help with box