Funeral and Memorial Boiled Wheat (Koliva) from Mount Athos
Koliva is a traditional sweet made from boiled wheat. We go to church on occasions such as memorial services, all Souls Day and Saints feasts. Tradition wants the materials from which the koliva are made to be 9, that is, the number of angelic orders. Each material has its own symbolism. Wheat in the Orthodox church symbolizes the human body and the hope for the Resurrection. The wheat seed first dies and is buried in the earth and then it incorruptible. See step by step the recipe with all the secrets for successful aromatic koliva with rich nutritional value.
"The seed you sow in the field does not come to life unless it first dies. And at that time you don't sow the body of the plant that is going to grow, but a bare grain either of wheat or of some other kind". 1st letter of Paul to the Corinthians, Chapter 15, verses 36-37.
And the original: "...he who sows, does not live unless he dies, and he who sows , does not sow the body that is being born, but a bare grain, whether it is wheat or other crops" .
We put the wheat in a pot to boil, but without curdling, for about an hour.
We drain the wheat and spread it on a towel to absorb the moisture.
We put all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
We sprinkle the mixture with powdered sugar.
If the koliva are intended for a memorial service, then we form a large cross on their surface. The cross is formed either with cinnamon or with peeled almonds or with pomegranate.
If the koliva are intended for the celebration of a Saint, then we form the figure of the Saint using cinnamon and natural colors.
We boil the wheat on a very low heat so that the seeds don't dissolve.
Leftovers keep covered in the fridge for a day or two.
The recipe is from the book Traditional Saint Recipes by Fr. Nikitas- I.K. Panagia of Portaitissa, Mount Athos.
