How To Make Orthodox Kolyva (Memorial Wheat)

Memorial wheat and prayers for the dead

In the Orthodox Church, we often have services dedicated to praying for the dead. Throughout the year, we celebrate the Saturday of Souls, on which we pray for all who departed this life in the hope of life eternal. Additionally, we hold smaller services for when someone passes away or when we commemorate the anniversary of their passing. After both of these services, we eat a certain dish. This dish, called kolyva, or memorial wheat, is prepared and offered in memory of the departed. In this post, we teach you how to make Orthodox memorial wheat.

Recipe for Kolyva

This recipe for kolyva is flexible, depending on your tastes and preferences. If you don’t like or are allergic to nuts, for example, you can easily prepare and decorate the kolyva without them.

Moreover, when decorating your kolyva, you can experiment. Some people like to use white and milk chocolate chips, while others prefer the silver coated candies, like the kolyva in the picture below. If you have a specific question about what might be allowed, ask your priest!

[cooked-recipe id=”6921″]

Share your experience!

Have you made kolyva before? What did you do differently? Share your experience with us in the comments below!

Keep Reading: Why Do Orthodox Christians Pray For The Dead? >>

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