Daniel of Egypt

Holy Martyr Daniel of Egypt was one of the five young Egyptian brothers who suffered at Caesarea in Palestine, in 309, together with Saint Pamphilus and his companions, in Diocletian's persecution. The twelve martyrs are commemorated together.

Pamphilus, born at Berytus (Beirut) and educated at Alexandria, was a presbyter at Caesarea and worked much on comparing and correcting the texts of the New Testament, gathering a great library; Blessed Jerome greatly esteemed him. Pamphilus, the deacon Valens and Paul were imprisoned by the governor Urban for two years. In the time of his successor Firmilian, one hundred and thirty Christians of Egypt were condemned to the gold mines of Cilicia, and five young brothers accompanied them to the place of exile. On their return they were stopped at Caesarea and imprisoned for confessing Christ.

The young men were brought to Firmilian's judgment together with Pamphilus, Valens and Paul. They gave the names of Old Testament prophets, Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Samuel and Daniel, and, asked about their homeland, answered that they were citizens of Jerusalem, meaning the heavenly Jerusalem; Firmilian knew no such city, for Jerusalem had been destroyed by Titus in the year 70 and on its site the Emperor Hadrian had built the city called Aelia. After long tortures, failing to learn anything or make them recant, he beheaded them all, together with Pamphilus, Valens and Paul. Besides them died Porphyry, Pamphilus's servant, burned at the stake, Seleucus, a former soldier, Theodulus, an aged servant of the governor, crucified, and Julian of Cappadocia, burned. The bodies of the twelve lay four days unburied, untouched by beasts or birds, and then the Christians were allowed to bury them.