Modern man is taught the adoption of food called breakfast, lunch, dinner. In monasteries and among people who believe in God, in the kitchen and in the dining room it is customary to call a meal a meal. Why is it so strange called? A meal is not just lunch or dinner, it is the adoption of any food and drink by the whole family at home or by a brother in the monastery. Modern people who do not belong to any religion may be surprised: "We also sit down to eat all together!". They can be answered that the meal is different from the usual lunch.
A table for a meal, not for conversation
Christians, especially Orthodox Christians, know that at home it is imperative to have icons of the Lord and His Mother. Where food is usually taken (in the kitchen, in the living room or in the hall), there is a holy corner. The table is set so that the head of the family is sitting right in front of the images, and the rest of the household and guests are seated on each side. What does a Christian meal look like? The photo below illustrates it in the past (and even present) times among pious families. The landlord begins to pray out loud in front of the icons, having previously crossed himself so that the Lord sanctifies the food. The rest are silently listening. The father at the end of the prayer overshadows the food and drink with the sign of the Cross. He sits at the table first.
In past centuries, almost every child knew that his father is the most important, he is held in high esteem, so he was the first to sit at the table and take a spoon. Of course, the wife or daughter serves a bowl of soup at first to him. A meal is not a reason to talk. They all eat in silence. At the end of dinner, the head of the family gets up from the table and thanks the Lord and the Mother of God aloud for the food provided. All relatives and friends also pray. Only after words of thanksgiving to God can we begin conversations, communication.
What is the meaning of the meal?
Why are such rules for dinner adopted among Christians? Where did this custom come from? To answer this question, you need to look into the gospel. Before his death, Jesus Christ called the disciples, and they last sat at the common table. He broke bread and told his followers that it would be in memory of His body. Then he pointed to a bowl of wine.
The meal is the memory of Jesus Christ. To this day, clergy prepare Holy Communion in churches at the liturgy, with particles of prosphora (small bread) placed in the bowl and poured wine. At this time, God himself performs a miracle at the altar. Bread and wine symbolize the body and blood of the Lord crucified the day after the holy meal with the disciples.
That is why the tradition has been preserved that it is necessary to have bread on the table during a home or monastery meal. Christians pray before meals and after that the Lord is present nearby, He blessed dinner. It is said that food after prayer becomes sanctified. No disease adheres to believers. There are cases when the food turned out to be spoiled, but people did not receive symptoms of poisoning.
Funeral meal
The word "meal" is Greek. It means "food and drink in society." All people sit together at the table, after praying.
There is a special meal - funeral. When a Christian dies, they pray for him on the 3rd, 9th, 40th days after death. All relatives, friends, acquaintances sit at the table and commemorate the deceased. The church calls on the mourners to invite the poor, deprived, so that they pray for the newly-deceased. The Lord says that He will reward the person who gives his own and does not require anything back. You must be able to give free of charge.
Lenten meal is an exception to the menu of meat, eggs, milk. Such products in Orthodoxy are called fastidious. It can be assumed that only vegetarian food is allowed on the table. On fasting days you can’t overeat. It is better to eat quite a bit than to overeat. Many people believe that fasting is only about food. This is not true. During fasting, you need to beware of chatter, quarrels, irritation, entertainment. Every minute is best spent with prayer, including at the meal.
Holy meal
After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the church encourages people to confess their sins and partake of the Mysteries of Christ in order to be reconciled to God and come to Paradise. People take turns coming after confession to the priest, putting their hands on their chests crosswise, call their name and eat from a spoon a piece of bread and wine, which is the Body and Blood of Christ. Young children under seven are communed without confession.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that consecrated food can heal spiritually and bodily, give strength and patience. Every person who participated in a meal for the first time at a conscious age knows how it differs from a normal meal. During such a pious dinner, a swarm of thoughts leaves his head, there is no desire at the same time to watch TV and argue with loved ones, and the stomach eats food with good use.