Marble Inscription

There is a small marble plaque set into a frame over the door to the kelli of Father Daniel, at the basin of the Prophet Elijah. I photographed it in afternoon shade, but it was difficult to read. I returned in the evening and photographed it with raking light. Then the inscription became more legible.

Ὦ Κελλίον . . .
Σήμερον ἐμοῦ· Αὔριον ἑτέρου· Καὶ οὐδέποτέ τινος. Ἐκτίσθη δι᾿ ἔξοδον· Ἀρχιμανδρίτου Δανιήλ ΠαπαΪωάννου Μεσολογγίτου· καὶ Συμμοναστοῦ Σιναϊτου· + 1923, Μαΐου κγ.

O Kelli . . .
Today it is mine, tomorrow someone else’s, and never anyone’s. Created for exodus/departure/departure from life/decease. Archimandrite Daniel Papaioannou from Messolonghi, and Fellow-monk of Sinai. + 1923, May 23.

From the Sinai Monachologion we learn that Father Daniel was born in 1852 in Messolonghi, and given the name Dimitrios. His father was a priest named Ioannis, and his mother’s name was Magdalene. On March 9, 1874, he was ordained to the diaconate, and on December 7, 1877, to the priesthood, by Anthimos, Bishop of Naupaktos and Evrytania. On February 28, 1879, he visited Mount Athos. In 1890 he went to Jerusalem as a pilgrim to the Holy Land. On March 20, 1905, he came to live at Sinai. Here he passed away on February 24, 1923, having become an archimandrite and father confessor. The marble plaque was placed above the door to his kelli three months after his repose.