Gallery NO. DS - 2026 - 005
Created May 2026
Fasting Bowl I — Κύριε ἐλέησον
Handcrafted Greek Orthodox Stoneware Bowl For Small Soup and Broth
Fasting Bowl I — Κύριε ἐλέησον is a one-of-a-kind stoneware bowl bearing one of the most ancient and enduring prayers of the Christian tradition:
Κύριε ἐλέησον — Lord, have mercy.
Heard continually throughout the Divine Liturgy and the daily services of the Orthodox Church, these words form one of the simplest expressions of Christian prayer. They are at once a petition, a confession of dependence upon God, and a turning of the heart toward His mercy.
Created as part of The Fasting Table, the vessel carries this prayer into the ordinary rhythm of the meal. In the Orthodox tradition, fasting is not simply a change in what is eaten; it is a discipline intended to draw the heart toward repentance, prayer, and greater attentiveness to God. Here, the words Κύριε ἐλέησον remain present at the table as a quiet invocation.
The Inscription
Κύριε ἐλέησον Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy.
Few prayers are as deeply woven into Orthodox worship as Κύριε ἐλέησον. Repeated throughout the Church's liturgical life, it is a prayer spacious enough to contain repentance, need, thanksgiving, and hope.
Within the context of the fasting table, the inscription takes on particular meaning. The vessel becomes a reminder that fasting is ultimately directed beyond the food itself—toward humility, mercy, and the remembrance of God.
Surface & Form
Individually formed by hand, Fasting Bowl I retains the subtle irregularities that distinguish handmade stoneware from industrial production. The form is substantial yet quiet, created for functional use while carrying the presence of a singular studio work.
Its layered glaze surface responds naturally to the movement of the clay and the conditions of the kiln, creating variations in tone, texture, and depth that cannot be precisely repeated. The Greek inscription is integrated directly into the vessel, joining sacred language with an object intended for everyday use.
No two works emerge from the kiln identically. Variations in glaze movement, inscription, form, and firing remain visible as part of the history of the piece.
This work belongs to The Hellenic Collection, a curated body of stoneware bearing the sacred Greek language of Orthodox Christianity—ancient prayers, Scripture, theological words, and liturgical proclamations carried into clay.
Details
Collection: The Fasting Table Curated Subcollection: The Hellenic Collection Form: Handmade Orthodox stoneware fasting bowl Material: High-fired stoneware Inscription: Κύριε ἐλέησον Transliteration: Kyrie eleison Meaning: Lord, have mercy. Dimensions: Approximately 2.5 in. high × 5.5 in. diameter Approximate Capacity: 20–24 fl. oz. Approximate Weight: 1.25–1.75 lb. Approximate Packaged Shipping Weight: 2.5–3 lb. Firing: High-fired to Cone 6 Origin: Handmade by DOXA & STAVROS Edition: One of one
Each DOXA & STAVROS vessel is individually formed and finished by hand. Variations in shape, surface, glaze movement, inscription, and firing are not considered defects but are evidence of the making process and the singular nature of the work.
Objects formed by prayer and fire.
