Seal for Koliva Saint Demetrius

Koliva

Koliva (kollyva, kollyba, or kolyvo) is a dish made of whole-grain wheat. Sometimes barley, millet, or rice are used instead. Another ingredients of the koliva are sugar or honey, as well as nuts, dried fruits, breadcrumbs, sesame seeds and pomegranate. The top of the koliva is sometimes decorated with white or silver colored candies.

Each ingredient of koliva has its own symbolic meaning. Wheat grains symbolize a person who, much like a grain, is a child of the earth. We lie down in the earth in order to rise again to eternal life by Lord's mercy. Honey and sugar symbolize the sweetness of Heaven. Raisins represent Jesus Christ, who is the True Vine. The pomegranate symbolizes the splendor and grace of Heaven. Nuts are life, which prolongs itself. Finally, white candy symbolizes bones, which, unlike corruptible flesh, remain unchanged.

How to use

Cover the surface of the koliva with powdered sugar. Then place a seal on top, in the center of the dish. Sprinkle cinnamon in order to capture the pattern of the seal. Finally, remove the seal as carefully as possible, in order to not disturb the pattern.

Saint Demetrius

Saint Demetrius is one of the holy warriors and the patron saint of Thessaloniki, where his grave and relics are kept. He protected the city from many natural disasters. He is also the protector of catechists.

Demetrius was born in Thessaloniki to pious parents who were secret Christians. He was very gifted, both physically and spiritually. Emperor Maximian Galerius appreciated Demetrius' talents and appointed him proconsul in Thessaloniki.

He had the gift of a missionary and catechist, thanks to which the saint led many people away from idolatry. But news of this reached Maximian Galerius, who urged him to repent and turn away from Christianity. The saint boldly confessed his faith, for which he was imprisoned and subjected to many horrible tortures.

Near the saint's prison there was a stadium where another Christian, Nestor, had to fight a most feared imperial gladiator, Lyeios. With the blessing of St. Demetrius, Nestor defeated his giant opponent. But this provoked the anger of the emperor, who ordered his soldiers to find Demetrius in prison and kill him. And so they did.

Christians took the saint's bloody body and buried it at the site of his martyrdom. Later, a temple was built there, and then the great church (basilica) of St. Demetrius that we know today.

Another disciple of the saint, his servant named Lupp, took the bloody riza and the martyr’s ring and began to heal the sick with them. With this riza and the ring, he wrought many miracles.

The memory of Saint Demetrius is commemorated on October 26.