From “The Nativity Fast: A Resource for the Domestic Church”: “The holy prophet Daniel and the 3 Holy Children: Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael: all four of these young men were members of the tribe of Judah, deported to Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem. Daniel is counted as one of the 4 major prophets along with Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekial. The Holy Youths Ananais (“God is gracious”), Azarias (“whom God helps”), and Mishael (“Who is what God is?”) were companions of the holy prophet Daniel. They were chosen to serve in the king’s palace with Daniel (Daniel 1:6) and were all from the tribe of Judah. They gave Ananias the Chaldean name Shadrach (“royal”), Azarias the Chaldean name Abednego (“servant of Nego”), and Misael the Chaldean name Meshach (“guest”). They were thrown into a fiery furnace when they refused to worship the golden idol set up by King Nebuchadnezzar, but the angel of the Lord preserved them (Daniel 3:25).” (from the Proto-Cathedral of Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic Church © 2020)
