August 27th:St.Phanourios

On August 27th, the Church celebrates St.Phanourios. Probably because of his name, he is associated with finding things. SO if, say, you happen to lose an item, your wedding band, for instance, or you want a good husband to be "revealed" for your daughter, you promise the saint a pie. Be careful what you promise, because you do have to bake it!

We almost always lose something in this household, so we do promise the Saint a pie every year!

When I was a child, my mother always made a point of making a phanouropita (St. Phanourios pie). We'd then take it to church, being careful not to let the nice snow covered top lose its icing sugar to the depths of the carrier bag. There it would sit amongst tens of other pies in front of the icons. The priest would read a special blessing. He'd also mention the names of those offering the pies, handwritten in white scraps of paper. We'd then take our pie, cut it into squares and share with the congregation. It was also an occasion for comparing cooking skills. "Did you taste so and so' pie? Nice but too much brandy...not enough walnuts...It needed some more time in the oven...".

When we moved here the custom of baking the Saint a pie, was not a custom, as it were. When I first took the pie to church, the priest asked me: "You are not from here, are you?". Nevertheless, he kindly looked for his book of blessings and found the prayer to the Saint. Ever since I bake a pie and take it to the same church. The priest smiles and goes to fetch his book.

We sit around the table, holding candles while the priest reads, praying for God to rest the soul of the saint's mother. We then cut and share the pie with whoever happens to enter the church at the time.

Apolytikion

A heavenly song of praise is brightly sung on the earth;

the hosts of the Angels keep an earthly festival now in splendour and radiant joy;

from on high, they praise with hymns thy suff'rings and struggles;

and below, the Church doth laud the heavenly glory

thou foundest by thy contests and pains, O glorious Phanurius.

Read more about the Saint and the traditions surrounding him here. You may try your hand on this delicious cake (and say a prayer, too). This recipe looks a lot like mine. Sometimes it's a success, sometimes it's not, so I guess it depends on patience mainly with beating the ingredients in the proper time and way.
We shall hopefully make a pie tonight, and take it to church tomorrow! I shall let you know of this year's results!