DANIIL SIHASTRUL (Romanian for "Daniel the Hesychast"); was a renowned Romanian Orthodox spiritual guide, advisor of STEPHEN the GREAT, and hegumen of VORONEȚ Monastery.
   Canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1992, he is commemorated on December 18.
   DANIIL SIHASTRUL was born near the beginning of the 15th century in a village near, RĂDĂUȚI, with the baptismal name DUMITRU.
   Feeling the need for greater solitude, he took upon himself the Great Schema, taking the schematic name of DANIIL, and retreating into a densely forested area of the VIȚĂU VALLEY near modern-day PUTNA.
   There he found a rock into which he carved a chapel.
STEPHEN the GREAT came here in 1451, after the death of his father BOGDAN II, at REUSENI.
   DANIIL prophesied that STEPHEN would soon become king of MOLDOVA, which did occur in 1457.
   At the urging of DANIIL SIHASTRUL, STEPHEN the GREAT built PUTNA Monastery in 1466 (i.s.).