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.

THE TRADITION OF THE VASILOPITA

The tradition of baking and cutting a special "pita" (which means a loaf of bread, a cake, or even a pie) each year on January 1st is observed in honor of our Holy Father Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia--hence its name "Vasilopita" meaning "St. Basil's Bread." This tradition is observed in both parish churches and in the homes of the faithful. What is the meaning of this tradition and how did it begin?

For centuries upon centuries, parents, grandparents, and godparents have related the following to Orthodox Christian 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 and pieces of jewelry, including precious family heirlooms. Learning of this injustice upon his flock, Saint Basil the Great, the Archbishop of Caesarea, 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 canceled the tax and instructed his tax collectors to turn over to Saint Basil all of the chests containing the 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 thousands of coins and pieces of jewelry to their rightful owners. After praying for a long time before the holy icons of our Master Christ and His All-Holy Mother, Saint Basil had all the treasures baked into one huge pita. He then called all the townspeople to prayer at the Cathedral, and, after the 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 valuables. 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 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 sweet bread (like that used for Artoklasia), while in other places it takes the form of a spicy sheet cake (without frosting). But no matter what form a Vasilopita may take, they all have one thing in common--each contain a single coin. After placing the bread dough or cake batter n the proper baking pan, the baker makes with the fail-wrapped coin the sign of the Cross over it, closes his/her eyes, and then secretly places it into the unbaked Vasilopita. After the Vasilopita is baked and cooled, it is blessed and cut following the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Saint Basil on January 1st. (Source From the DOWAMA St. Raphael Clergy Brotherhood)

Please note: There are also other versions of the Vasilopita tradition and its origin.

The cutting of Vasilopita for our parish will take place on Sunday, January 12th immediately following the Divine Liturgy. The heads of the parish ministries are requested to be present at the divine services and receive a slice of Vasilopita and in turn to offer a donation on behalf of the church ministry.

All parishioners attending the Divine Liturgy on that Sunday will have the opportunity also to receive a slice of Vasilopita and to offer their donation. Our Philoptochos chapter will have an offering tray at the Narthex.

Funds collected will be passed on to Saint Basil's Academy as we do every year.

Our sincere gratitude to Mrs. Maria Angelos and family who always bake the Vasilopita for the faithful of the parish and another one for the children of our Church School.

A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL!

With agape,

+Father George