Dear Friends, the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate has ruled that "Greek Food" is not to be eaten during this Lenten period.. This has led to already various problems and requests for clarification.

Ice Hockey officials in Russia are concerned that with the unsuitability of such wonderful dishes as squid boiled in lemon and olive oil and ouzo..the squids themselves will be thrown on the ice at games by fans remembering last years Stanley Cup finals. 0ther Muscovites,better travelled,who have seen Greek diners in Boston and their 20 page menus,inquire what exactly are the limits of "Greek food". A Nina Bobrova writes to Izvestia "Please,do they have cabbages in Greece, I will not give mine up!" It is only the second day of lent but already a sense of tension lies heavy in dining rooms from Moscow hotels,to the humblest dusty village..

0nly spokesmen for the Indiana 0rthodox List were delighted:"We have been discussing if olive oil was banned in cooking only because it used to be carried in animal skin bags but now that problem is solved in a clear and Churchly way!" rejoiced Mark Alexovitch Chumokish.