St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Cæsarea in Cappadocia
My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
THE TRADITION OF THE VASILOPITA
(Pronounced "va-see-LO-pe-ta")
The tradition of baking and cutting a special "pita" (which can mean a loaf of bread, a cake, or even a pie) each year on January 1st is observed in honor of our Holy Father Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia-hence its name Vasilopita. This tradition is observed in both parish churches and in the homes of the Orthodox Christian faithful. What is the meaning or this tradition and how did it begin? For centuries upon centuries parents, grandparents and godparents have related the following pious story to Orthodox children about Saint Basil and the Vasilopita.
One year, during a time of terrible famine, the Emperor levied a sinfully excessive tax upon the people of Caesarea. The tax was such a heavy burden upon the already impoverished people that to avoid debtor's prison each family had to relinquish its few remaining coins as well as pieces of jewelry, including precious family heirlooms. Learning of this injustice against his flock, Saint Basil the Great, the Archbishop of Ceasarea, took up his bishop's staff and the book of the Holy Gospels and came to his people's defense by fearlessly calling the Emperor to repentance. By God's grace, the Emperor did repent! He cancelled the tax and instructed his tax collectors to turn over to Saint Basil all of the chests containing the gold coins and jewelry which had been paid as taxes by the people of Caesarea.
But now Saint Basil was faced with the daunting and impossible task of returning these gold coins and pieces of jewelry to their rightful owners. After praying for a long time before the icons of our Lord Jesus Christ and His All-Holy Mother (Theotokos), Saint Basil had all the treasures baked into one huge "pita" or "bread." He then called all the townspeople to prayer at the cathedral and after Divine Liturgy he blessed and cut the "pita", giving a piece to each person. Miraculously each owner received in his piece of Vasilopita his own valuable. They all joyfully returned home, giving thanks to God who had delivered them from abject poverty and to their good and holy bishop, Saint Basil the Great.
In remembrance of that miracle wrought by God as a result of Saint Basil's prayers, love and defense of his people, Orthodox Christians have observed the tradition of the Vasilopita each year on January 1st-the date on which Saint Basil reposed in the Lord in the year 379 A.D.
In some places the Vasilopita is prepared as a loaf of rich bread (like that used for Artoklasia), while in other places it takes the form of a spicy cake (without frosting). But no matter what form a Vasilopita may take, they all have one thing in common-each contains a single coin. After placing the bread dough or batter in the proper baking pan, the baker makes with the foil wrapped coin the sign of the Cross over it, closes his/her eyes, and then secretly places into the unbaked Vasilopita.
After the Vasilopita is baked and cooled, it is blessed and cut following Divine Liturgy for the feast of Saint Basil the Great on January 1st. At churches it is blessed and cut in the parish church or community center by the bishop or priest and in homes it is blessed and cut by the head of the household, usually the father. The blessing of the Vasilopita usually begin with the Apolytikion (Dismissal hymn) of Saint Basil the Great, chanted in Tone 1:
"Thy sound hath gone forth into all the earth that received thy word. Thereby thou hast divinely taught the Faith; Thou has made manifest the nature of things that be; Thou hast adorned the ways of man. O namesake of the royal priesthood, O our righteous Father Basil, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.
Then the following prayer may be said:
"Let us pray unto the Lord, have mercy. O Creator of all things, Lord and King of the ages, plenteous in mercy and bountiful in goodness, who didst accept the Magi's gifts in Bethlehem, who art the Bread of Life that came down from heaven, who by Thine authority didst establish the seasons and the years and dost hold our life in Thy hands. Hear us who pray to Thee on this holy day upon our entrance into the new year of Thy Goodness and bless (+) this loaf/bread, which has been offered to Thy glory and in honor of our Father among the Saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Do Thou who art Benevolent, look down from Thy Holy Heaven and send down upon us, upon those who have offered these gifts and upon them that partake thereof, Thine heavenly gifts, for our hope is in Thee, the Living God, unto the ages. Bless this parish (home, school, foundation, etc.) and our entrances and exits; replenish our life with all good things and direct our footsteps that we may keep Thy Divine Commandments, for man shall not live by bread alone; Though the intercessions of Thy Most Pure Mother, of our Father among the Saints Basil the Great and of all Thy Saints who from all ages have been well pleasing to Thee. Amen."
In our Greek language the name Vasileios (Basil) means "royal" or "kingly."
The sign of the Cross is then made over the Vasilopita with a knife while saying, "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Then pieces of the Vasilopita are cut in the following order:
The First piece is set aside for Christ,
the Second piece for our Theotokos,
the Third piece for Saint Basil,
and the Fourth piece for the poor.
Then pieces are given to all present, beginning with the eldest and ending with youngest. He or she who receives the piece containing the coin is traditionally considered to be especially blessed for the New Year.
A SIMPLE RECIPE FOR VASILOPITA
Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
3 extra-large eggs
Grated rind of 2 large oranges
Grated rind of 2 large lemons
1/2 teaspoon crushed/powdered sour cherry pits (Greek makhlepi)
2 teaspoons crushed/powdered gum mastic (mastikha)
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 milk
1 egg yolk blended with 1 tablespoon milk
sesame seeds
blanched almonds
a clean coin-a quarter will do nicely-wrapped in silver or gold foil.
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Thickly butter a 10-inch round spring form pan.
- In a large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the sugar and beat until the mixture is light. Beat in the eggs, one a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the orange and lemon rinds, and the crushed/powdered sour cherry pits and gum mastic.
- In a separate bowl, sift together three cups of the flour, the baking powder and salt.
- With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the dry mixture alternately with the milk. The batter will be very thick. Using a wooden spoon, gradually blend in the remaining flour, beating well until completely smooth.
- Spread the batter into the pan, presses the coin into the dough until it is completely covered (don't let anyone see where you place it), and then smooth the top. Brush the top evenly with the egg and milk mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Gently press the blanched almonds into the top to make a Cross and spell out the date of the New Year.
- Bake for 45 minutes, until golden brown (if it browns too quickly, cover the top with aluminum foil). Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing from spring form and thoroughly cool before slicing.
With sincere agape in Christ,
+Father George