The Moscow Monastery in the name of St. Daniel the Stylite (Danilov Monastery) was founded in 1282 by Prince Daniel of Moscow, son of Alexander Nevsky. Shortly after being tonsured a monk, the prince died and, in fulfillment of his will, was buried in the monastery. During its long history, the monastery experienced both desolation and revival. After the revolution, it was closed, most of the monks were shot, and the relics of St. Prince Daniel disappeared. The monastery set up a colony for juvenile delinquents.
The monastery became the only church complex returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1980s. By the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia, a significant restoration was carried out to return the monastery to its historical appearance. Old churches were restored: the Church of the Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, the Trinity Cathedral, the bell tower of St. Daniel the Stylite, and two new churches and two chapels were built.
In 1986, the Metropolitan of All America Theodosius returned to the monastery several particles of the relics of St. Daniel, miraculously preserved abroad, then placed in icons, an ark and a shrine.
Danilov Monastery is now one of the main spiritual centers of Russia. The monastery has a Sunday school, catechetical courses, the Danilovsky Blagovestnik publishing house, an excursion department, church workshops, monastic courtyards in the Moscow region and in the Ryazan region and the church of St. Nicholas in Izmailovo conduct services.
St. Danilov Monastery is stavropegial and reports directly to the ruling bishop of the capital - the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, whose residence is located in the monastery.