The periodic abstinence from olive oil is one of the hardest parts of fasting. But why is there such a prohibition? Let’s start from the beginning. Religious fasting nutrition is a form of self discipline. It can be also a form of commemoration of saints or…
FOOD FOR THE DEAD
As a puff of wind, the psyche leaves the body at the moment of death. Marble grave stele of a little girl, ca. 450–440 B.C (commons.wikimedia.org/) Then, either enjoying the easy life in the Elysian Fields or wandering as weeping shadow among the…
Fasting
Τhe climax (ladder) of Divine ascent. Monks climb and fail from the ladder to heaven. They have to overcome 23 vices and gluttony is among them. (John of the Ladder or John Scholasticus or John Sinaites, 6th century) Christian Church used…
The Bread Oblations of St. Antonios
On January 17, the feast day of St. Antonios, women on Sfakia (SW Crete), bake man-shaped breads as an offering for the sick loved ones. The custom of anthropomorphic breads or foods is found in several cultures. Small anthropomorphic breads, known as “muertitos,”…