Monk Madai (Maamdi) a Kurd

 

 

Monk Madai (Maamdi) a Kurd

 

Although he lived only thirty-five years, Fr. Daniel did an enormous amount of missionary and catechetical work not only in the Russian Church, but even beyond it. I can cite personally, from my own experience, many examples of how whole families were baptized after hearing about Fr. Daniel, reading his books, and listening to his lectures. I hear of how people entered the life of the Church thanks to Fr. Daniel’s books and lectures. I myself know people who began doing missionary work with non-Orthodox peoples after getting to know the slain Fr. Daniel.

 

I would like to recall one story from my personal experience, which is very dear to me. In 2009, on October 19, in the Church of the Apostle Thomas, Bishop Seraphim had come to serve. There were many people, but after the services I nevertheless had a chance to talk with Fr. Daniel, although he was very tired. The conversation was as usual about missionary work among the Kurds. We talked over the methods of preaching. He ascribed great significance to the courageous bearing of God’s word, unadulterated and without hiding anything. He also emphasized the importance of apologetics, for every person should make his own choice. In order to do this, a person has to understand what he believes, because many Kurds do not know very much about their own faith. We decided to write together a large work on Yazidism in order to describe the real essence of this religion, which, unfortunately, is hidden and unknown to a significant percentage of Kurds.

 

I remember his words, “You mustn’t fear preaching Christ.” In Kurdistan there is a fairly negative attitude against missionary activity among Muslims. Fr. Daniel assured me that there is no need to philosophize, we just have to preach, and then as for the fruits—Lord Himself knows and directs things according to His good will. We are not going after quantities of people but quality, those who truly need the Truth. In post-Soviet countries Kurds are converting en masse; in a few decades Christianity will become the dominant religion among the Kurds.

 

Now I feel Fr. Daniel’s help more than when he was in the flesh. Those who are now helping the Kurdish mission are people who, for the most part, were converted thanks to Fr. Daniel. For example, we commissioned the painting of two large icons in the Kurdish tradition. This family of iconographers entered more fully into the Church thanks to Fr. Daniel, and a large part of the donations came from benefactors who were likewise inspired by him for missionary work.

 

Thanks to Fr. Daniel’s close spiritual friend I came a few years ago to Greece. Now I have been a monk for three months. I was able to begin my studies in the theological department of Athens University. But most importantly, I was found by one God-bearing elder who became my spiritual father, and who reveres Fr. Daniel as a martyr of our times.

 

Fr. Daniel promised to help me and I feel his help. Our common ideas live on, and I hope that through his prayers they will bring forth fruit in their time.

 

I am amazed that although no one specially “promotes” the veneration of Fr. Daniel, it has nevertheless spread very broadly even to countries far from Russia. His first icon was painted in Macedonia at the request of Bishop David of Stobi; in Serbia a missionary center was founded in Fr. Daniel’s name; in the U.S.A an icon has been painted and there is even an initiative to build a church dedicated to him. In Romania an Akathist has been written. In Georgia monks have translated almost all of his books. In Greece, in the monastery of the Annunciation of the Mother of God in Ormylia (one of the largest Orthodox monasteries in the world), founded by the great Athonite elder Emilianos (Vathidis), they pray to Fr. Daniel as to a saint, and say, “It is time for you to pray not for Fr. Daniel but to him.”

 

Here in Greece, one hieromonk told me that he once read in the news about the martyric death of a Russian priest in his church, and he was touched by his life and labors. Later some pilgrims from Russia came to where he served. To his amazement, they gave him a small icon with the image of Fr. Daniel. He said, “I never doubted his sanctity in the least. I have always venerated him and prayed to him.” In the words of this hieromonk, once as he woke on an early Sunday morning, he prepared for the Liturgy, praying before the icon of Fr. Daniel, and a fragrance filled his cell… It is very important to say that no one is “preaching” about Fr. Daniel all over the world. The Lord Himself inspires people to venerate him. This is a great mystery before which we can only be in silent awe.