THEOSISDimitri of Rostov
Bacchus, the deity of excess, alongside his pupil Martin Luther, propounds that within military ranks, fasting should not dictate one's diet, allowing soldiers to consume meat during fasts to maintain their strength for warfare. To illustrate this point, I turn to the tale of Gideon. In ancient Israel, the Midianites severely oppressed the Israelites, who cried out to God in their distress. Moved by their plight, God raised Gideon, a robust leader, to confront Midian. The Lord instructed Gideon not to amass a large army, but rather to select only valiant and capable fighters. By night, Gideon infiltrated Midian's vast encampment with a mere three hundred chosen men. Guided by God's command, he quietly approached the camp with one companion, listening closely.
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He overheard a soldier recounting a dream to his ally: 'I saw a loaf of barley bread rolling down from Gideon's camp into ours, striking the tent and causing it to collapse.' To this, his companion replied, ‘This is not merely bread, but a spear from Gideon; the Lord will grant victory over Midian and our entire force.’ Upon hearing this, Gideon worshipped God, rallied his men, and launched a successful attack against Midian's army, leading to their utter defeat.
This prompts a question: why did barley dough roll into the Midianite tent instead of meat served in the ranks? Why not dough made from wheat? The interpreters suggest that the barley dough symbolized Gideon's fasting. As he readied himself for battle, he did so through diligent fasting and prayer, sustaining his body not with rich meats, but with barley bread, and thus, God assisted him. Shame on you, Bacchus and Luther, for asserting that soldiers would become weak due to abstaining from meat. Emperor Theodosius the Great fasted and prayed extensively while gearing up to fight Eugenius, the Roman oppressor—did this render him weak in battle? Heraclius likewise observed fasting during his conflicts with the Persians. Thus, Bacchus, glutton and reveler, you speak falsely, disconnected from the feast of Christ. But temperance, you shine brilliantly at the wedding feast of your Bridegroom.
Let this barley bread symbolize abstinence, fasting, and a disciplined life, much like barley bears sharp ears; for nothing fortifies the follower of Christ against the unseen foe more effectively than barley bread, signifying holy fasting and self-denial. We remember the account in Holy Scripture concerning Gideon’s confrontation with the Midianites, reflecting on the profound significance of this dream. The barley bread dough served as a weapon against adversaries, illustrating that barley, with its potent shoots, embodies a strict way of life. The dough signifies holy fasting, which lacks indulgence in food; the unbaked barley bread defeated the Midianite tent solely by its dough—whereas baked bread offers taste, dough has none. Additionally, barley bread, even when baked, lacks flavor compared to rye or wheat, and the dough is particularly bland. Hence, the dough of barley bread is emblematic of fasting, reminiscent of the ascetics who subsisted on such fare. St. Hilarion the Great admonished his body, saying, ‘I will not nourish you, you donkey, with barley, but with herbs.’ This unflavored dough, corresponding to fasting, transforms into a spear against the enemy, overcoming him. Indeed, we can assert: it is not mere dough, but a weapon against adversaries. Therefore, fast and abstain; your fasting will pierce the foe that arises against you with the strength of a sharp spear.