Dimitri was born around 1460 in the city of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky from pious parents. From a young age, he discovered his love for asceticism and imitated the exploits of St. Simeon Stylites (commemorated on September 1/14). The boy was sent to be raised in the Nikitsky monastery by his relative Hegumen Jonah, where he fell in love with monastic life and decided to become a monk himself. Fearing that his parents might interfere with the fulfillment of his intentions, he and his brother Gerasim secretly went to the monastery of St. Paphnutius of Borovsk (May 1/14). Here, having taken monastic tonsure, the Monk Daniel lived for 10 years under the guidance of the experienced elder St. Leucius.
Having gained experience in the spiritual life, the monk returned to Pereyaslavl to the Goritsky Monastery, where he accepted the priesthood. By a strict life pleasing to God and the tireless labors of St. Daniel attracted universal attention; many people began to come to him for confession and spiritual advice. No one left St. Daniel's comfortless.
A special ascetic manifestation of love for one's neighbors was the care of the monk for the dead beggars, homeless and rootless people. If he heard about a man who had died from robbers, drowned, or frozen on the road, with no one to bury him, he tried his best to find the dead body, carried it in his arms to the poorhouse (a place of burial for the homeless), buried it, and then commemorated it at the Divine Liturgy.
On the site of the poorhouse, the saint built a temple in honor of All saints, so that prayer for the repose of Christians who died unknown could be offered in it. Around him, several monks built their cells, forming a small monastery, where in 1525, St. Daniel became abbot. One of the main commandments taught by the new abbot called for accepting all wanderers, the poor and the poor. He admonished the brethren and guided them to the path of truth, not by force, but by meekness and love, setting an example of pure life and deep humility to all.
Many miracles were performed through the prayers of St. Daniel: he turned water into medicinal kvass, healed the brethren of diseases, and delivered them from dangers. During the famine, when there was little bread left in the monastery granary, he gave it to a poor widow with children. And since then, as a reward for the mercy of the monk, the flour in the granary has not been depleted during the entire famine.
Even during the monk's lifetime, his authority was so high that, at his request, Grand Duke Vasily III released those sentenced to death and twice asked him to be a recipient at the Baptism of his children.
Anticipating the approach of death, St. Daniel accepted the great schema. The blessed elder passed away at the age of 81, on April 7, 1540. His incorruptible relics were found in 1652. The Lord glorified His saint with numerous miracles.