October's Recipe: Youvétsi Me Lakhaniká (Baked orzo with vegetables)

• 1 generous cup / 250ml Greek extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 3 tomatoes, skinned and finely diced
• 1 stick celery, finely sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely sliced
• 4 cups / 500g kritharáki
• 8-12 keftedákia
• 1 3/4 cups / 200g crumbled sheep's milk cheese
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Heat the olive oil in a pan and fry the onions and garlic until softened. Add the tomatoes, celery, and bell pepper, then season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat and cook the vegetables for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the orzo. Half fill a high -sided flameproof dish with the vegetable and noodle mixture, top up with hot water, and stir. Bake in a preheated oven for about 1 hour. Shortly before the end of the cooking time, top with the keftédes and the crumbled sheep's milk cheese and leave in the oven for a few minutes to brown. Serve straight from the dish while still hot.

Church symbolism dates back to the very beginnings of Christianity. During the persecution periods certain symbols were used to decorate the places of worship with these symbols having specified religious meanings. Few early Christians could read but all of them could recognize the symbolic portrayals, Many of these symbols are still used in church decorations and may be seen in the designs of stained glass windows, caged woodwork and icons. Listed here are some of the most familiar Christian symbols.
 
Alpha-omega (AΩ) - The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Signifies that God is the beginning and end of all things. Also expresses the eternity and divinity of the Lord and is referred to in the Book of Revelation of the Bible.
Book - A symbol of the Gospel - the word of God.
Bread - Symbol of the Divine Eucharist.
Candles - A symbol of the light of the Word of God.
Censer - The warmth of prayer, symbolized by incense.
Chalice - Symbol of the Holy Communion and the brotherhood of man.
Cross - There are many forms. All of them symbolize the Crucifixion of Christ and the triumph of Christianity.
Crown of Thorns - Symbol of the suffering Christ.
Eagle - Symbolizes St. John, who, because of his lofty theological expressions, soared heavenward like the eagle. A two-headed eagle signifies the Byzantine Empire and its church.
Eye - Symbol of the omniscience and omnipresence of God.
Fish - Early Christians used the fish as a secret symbol in the catacombs to conceal and safeguard their faith. The Greek word meaning fish ( ) symbolized Christ the Savior, the Holy Eucharist and Chistians.
Fisherman - Symbol of Christ the Savior as a Fisher of Men.
Flowers - Symbol of the pleasures and beauties of paradise.
ICXC - Symbolizes Jesus Christ.
- Symbol meaning that Jesus Christ is victorious.
Lambb Lily - The emblem of radiant purity.
Lion - Sometimes an emblem of Christ. Usually St. Mark is symbolized by the lion because his Gospel begins with the call to repentance by John the Baptist, a voice crying in the wilderness, which is compared to the roar of a lion in the desert.
Olive - Signifies consecration.
Olive Branch - An emblem of happiness and peace, symbolizing an end of turmoil as first mentioned in the Bible when the dove sent out by Noah returned with an olive branch.
Olive Tree - The emblem of immortality.
Ox (or Bull) - Symbolizes good deeds. St. Luke is symbolized by the ox because his Gospel begins with an account of the sacrifice of Zacharias. Luke also describes the sacrificial death of Christ, and the ox or bull was the ancient sacrifice animal.
Palm - The emblem of Christianity's victory.
Peacock (or Dove) - Symbol of the Holy Spirit. At the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove.
Sheep - Followers of Christ; Christian worshippers.
Shepherd - Christ the Good Shepherd. The well known 23rd Psalm calls the Lord a Shepherd.
Snake - Signifies evil and Satan. The first temptation to Eve in the Garden of Eden came through the whispering of the serpent.
Triangle - Symbolic of the Holy Trinity.
Vessel (or Ship) - Symbolizes the Church of Christ.
Vineyard - Symbolizes the Holy Communion and also is symbolic of Christ from whom we receive life as the grape plant does from the vineyard.
Violet - Symbolic of purity.
Wheat - Symbolic of the Resurrection.
Winged Man - Symbol ascribed to St. Matthew because his Gospel begins with the genealogy of Christ as a man.
X - Symbolizes Christ. This is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ.
X P - Signifies Jesus Christ.

Excerpts and Photography from
Ecclesia: Greek Orthodox Churches
of the Chicago Metropolis by Panos Fiorentinos