Today at the service they remembered how Peter denied himself three times and then cried. It sounds very human. And in our church, special buns with fish are always baked on this day and distributed to children.
Maxim correctly guessed about Peter’s birthday - he never stops me, because who wouldn’t be mean to us. But in our church they don’t bake such buns with fish, they only give out prosphora. What's the point, how to kill them, what's the licorice dough?
In Tetovo, we also bake fish cakes on St. Peter's Day, but not so sweet - the dough is with a little salt and fat, the children love them. Maxim said it well about the triple cancellation, it is human, I also cry when I read it. Sofia, try it with cumin or sesame on top, that's how we make them.
Here in Constanța, at the neighborhood church, the father always mentions how Petru cried after denying himself three times. This year I also got a piece of fish bread from the baking women, it was salty and with a little dill on top, I liked it. Snejana, what do you say, does it go well with dill or just sesame?
In Odesa, on St. Peter's Day, we also baked such buns with fish, only with herring, salty. Maxim rightly said that this triple denial and Peter's tears are the most human place in the entire Gospel. Snezhana, do you always put cumin in Tetovo?
Our choir always sings the kontakion about Peter’s denial on this feast, and it hits me the same way — that part where he weeps really does feel like something any of us could live through. In our Chicago parish the ladies bake those little fish buns too, but they add a pinch of dill like Andreea described. Снежана, does the cumin you mentioned go in the dough or just sprinkled on top?
Yeah, that kontakion about Peter weeping always gets me too — it's such a gut check every year. We don't do the fish buns here in Wichita, but I might try adding dill next time I make them at home. Ruth, does your choir sing it in English or Slavonic?
Our choir in Boston sings that same kontakion every year, and the line about Peter weeping always lands hard, like you said, Ruth. The ladies here bake the fish buns too, usually with a bit of dill on top just like Andreea got in Constanța. Michael, we do it in English mostly, but a few verses stay in Slavonic because that’s how the older folks learned it.
Even in our Batumi cathedral, they always say about Peter's rejection three times and his crying, it sounds very human. This year they also baked small breads with fish, sprinkled cumin on top and distributed them to the children. Snezhana, do you do the same in your tattoo?
Yes, Peter's renunciation and those tears always affect me - as if you see yourself in him. Are your fish buns tasty? Our son is always asking me to try baking something like this at home, but so far I have the usual ones. 😊
The kontakion about Peter’s denial always lands hard with me too — that line about the cock crowing makes the whole thing feel immediate, like it could be any Tuesday morning. We don’t do the fish buns in our parish, but I’ve made them at home with the cumin sprinkled on top before baking; it gives a nice little crunch. Ruth, do the ladies in Chicago shape them like little fish or just round?
Yes, Peter's renunciation always makes you think about your own weaknesses. And our buns are not bad, especially when I add dill and a little garlic to the filling. Try baking with tuna - my son also frowned at first, but now he asks for extras.
Mariam, even in our Telavi we are always reminded of Peter's cry, it is really very human. This year we also baked small breads with fish, distributed them to the children, but did not add Kimi. Do you really know what Snezhana is like in Tetovo?
Yes, Peter's renunciation really reminds us how easy it is to be afraid and renounce. But I haven't tried it with tuna yet, I wonder how you add it - just from a can or fry it? We also love dill in buns, especially in the morning with tea.
Our parish tried those fish buns with dill last year after someone brought the recipe back from Romania — they disappeared fast. We keep the same kontakion in English too, but the weeping line hits me every time, especially since my own dad passed. Do the older folks in your choir still request the Slavonic parts every June, or has that shifted?
Yes, Peter's renunciation really makes everyone think about where the line is in ourselves. But it is interesting with tuna, I usually take it from a can in oil, drain it and add it directly to the filling along with dill. Thanks for the idea, I will try it with garlic, as you write.
Those Romanian fish buns with dill were a hit here too — I brought a tray last year and they were gone before the coffee hour even really started. Our older choir members still ask for the Slavonic “weeping” part on the kontakion every June, and we usually give them a verse or two. Does your dad’s memory tie into any particular hymn for you, or is it mostly that line?
