「Give us this day our daily bread」. Everyone knows this phrase from the prayer "Our Father". But have you ever thought about it? Why bread, why necessary, why today? In these five words there is a whole philosophy that has moved the minds of theologians, philologists, and simply believers for two thousand years. In this article, we will try to understand what lies behind the request for bread and why it is still relevant today. A Word That Cannot Be Translated Let's start with the main mystery. In the Greek original of the prayer, written in the Gospel of Matthew, the word "epiousios" (ἐπιούσιος) is used. This is a unique word. It does not appear anywhere else in ancient Greek literature, except in this prayer. Scholars are still arguing about what it means. Literally, it can be broken down into two parts: "epi" (on, over) and "ousia" (substance, being). This gives us "supersubstantial" or "necessary for existence." In the Latin tradition, it was translated as "quotidianus" — everyday. And in Slavic and Russian — "nashusnyy." That is, that which is necessary for life, for the day. But there are other interpretations: some church fathers and teachers (for example, Origen) believed that the bread is spiritual, the Word of God. And that "epiousios" means bread that is above ordinary matter. So already at the level of translation, we encounter duality. Physical Bread: A Request for the Most Necessary The first and most obvious layer is simply food. In the ancient world, especially among peasants and the poor, bread was the foundation of life. Grain, flour, baked goods — these are not just products, they are survival. Jesus, pronouncing this prayer, meant literal bread that needs to be baked today to avoid starvation. There is a deep simplicity here: do not ask for wealth, do not ask for reserves for a year, do not ask for gold — ask for bread for one day. This humbles pride. A person who asks for bread for today acknowledges that he is not omnipotent, that he depend ... Read more