Daniel the Prophet & Ananias, Azarias, & Misail, the Three Holy Youths

Reading from the Synaxarion:

The Prophet Daniel and the Three Children were all descended from the
royal tribe of Judah. In the year 599 before Christ, in the reign of
Joachim, who was also called Jechonias (I Chron. 3:16, and II Chron.
36:8), while yet children, these righteous ones were led away as
captives into Babylon together with the other Jews by Nabuchodonosor. He
singled them out from among the other captives to serve him, and renamed
them thus: Daniel was named Baltazar; Ananias, Sedrach: Misael,
Misach; and Azarias, Abednago. They were reared in the royal court, and
taught the wisdom of the Chaldeans; and after the passage of three
years, they surpassed all the Chaldean sages (Dan. 1).

Thereafter, Daniel, being still a lad, interpreted that mysterious image seen
by Nabuchodonosor in a dream, an image that was composed of
different metals, but was shattered and ground to dust by a certain stone
which had been hewn out of a mountain without the hand of man. This
vision clearly portrayed through the mountain the height of the Virgin's
holiness and the power of the Holy Spirit which overshadowed her. Through
the image of the Stone, Christ was portrayed, Who was seedlessly born
of her, and Who by His coming as the Godman would shatter and
destroy all the kingdoms of the world, which were portrayed through the
image; and He would raise them that believe in Him into His Heavenly
Kingdom, which is eternal and everlasting (ibid. 2:31-45). Thereupon, he
signified in prophecy the time of His appearance in the Jordan, the
beginning of His preaching of the Gospel, the time of His saving Passion,
and the cessation of the worship according to the Mosaic Law, (ibid.
9:14-27). He portrayed most excellently the majestic and dread image of His
second coming, presenting by means of words, as with living colours, the
fiery throne which shall be set, the Eternal Judge Who shall sit
thereon, the river of fire that shall flow forth before Him, the calling
to account before the impartial judgment seat, the opened books of
each ones deeds, the thousands upon thousands of them that minister to
Him, and the ten thousands of them that stand in His presence (ibid.
7: 9-10). Daniel (whose name means "God is judge") was called "man
of desires" by the Angels that appeared (ibid. 9:23), because he
courageously disdained every desire of the body, even the very bread that is
necessary for nourishment. Furthermore, he received this name because, in
his longing for the freedom of those of his tribe, and his desire to
know their future condition, he ceased not supplicating God, fasting
and bending the knee three times a day. Because of this prayer he was
cast into the den of lions, after he had been accused by his enemies
as a transgressor of the decree issued through the proclamation of
the king, that no one should worship or ask for anything from God or
from men for thirty days, but only from the king. But having stopped
the mouths of the lions by divine might, and appearing among them as
though he were a shepherd of sheep, Daniel showed the impious the might
of godliness (ibid. 6:1-23).

As for the Three Children, Ananias ("Yah is gracious"), Misael ("Who
is what God is?), and Azarias ("Yah is keeper"), since they refused
to offer adoration to Nabuchodonosor's image, they were cast into
the furnace of fire. They were preserved unharmed amidst the flames -
even their hair was untouched - by the descent of the Angel of the
Lord, that is, the Son of God. Walking about in the furnace, as though
in the midst of dew, they sang the universal hymn of praise to God,
which is found in the Seventh and Eighth Odes of the Holy Psalter. And
coming forth therefrom, without even the smell of the fire on their
clothes (Dan. 3), they prefigured in themselves the Virgin's incorrupt
giving of birth; for she, on receiving the Fire of the Godhead within
her womb, was not burned, but remained virgin, even as she was before
giving birth.

Therefore the Church celebrates the Three Children and Daniel on this day,
on the Sunday of the Forefathers, and on the Sunday before the
Nativity of Christ, since they prefigured and proclaimed His Incarnation.
Furthermore, they were of the tribe of Judah, wherefrom, Christ sprang forth
according to the flesh. The holy Three Children completed their lives full
of days; as for the Prophet Daniel, he lived until the reign of
Cyrus, King of Persia, whom he also petitioned that his nation be
allowed to return to Jerusalem and that the Temple be raised up again,
and his request was granted. He reposed in Peace, having lived about
eighty-eight years. His prophetical book, which is divided into twelve
chapters, is ranked fourth among the greater Prophets.

Apolytikion in the Second Tone
Great are the accomplishments of faith. In the fountain of flame the
three Holy Youths rejoiced as though they were resting by the waters.
And the Prophet Daniel showed himself to be a shepherd to the lions,
as though they were sheep. Through their prayers O Christ our God,
save our souls.

Kontakion in the Third Tone
Since thy pure and hallowed heart had been made pure by the Spirit, it
became His dwelling-place and clearest prophecy's vessel; for thou didst
behold things far off as near and present, and when cast into the den,
thou didst muzzle lions; for which cause, O blessed Prophet, glorious
Daniel, we all revere thee in faith.