GARDINER -- Two-thousand-year-old recipes will be served at Donald Brann's book-signing event on April 5 at the Christ Church.

Brann will read excerpts from his new novel "Sapphira's Song," at an Evening in Cana from 6 to 8 p.m.

Donald Daly, a chef and food historian from Salem, Mass. will prepare period dishes from the Roman Empire, Greece, the Promised Land and Egypt.

The menu will include fiery garlic cheese, pork with apple, coriander and mint, olive relish, cabbage in the Athenian fashion with honey and coriander, chicken with caraway and red wine and honey sesame squares.

"As the book is a biblical novel, we will be serving two buffets, one consisting of simple Aramaic far, such as what Jesus would have eaten, and another table featuring Greco-Roman foods and wines . . . This is food that the Roman and Greek aristocracy would have eaten," Daly said.

Admission for the event is $8. For reservations call 582-3354.

Brann, who lives in Augusta with his wife, Karen, said net proceeds form the refreshments and book sales will be donated to the Bread of Life Ministries to help the homeless.

"I have a lot of respect for what they do, they're nondenominational," he said. "A lot of people can't heat there homes or have a place to live so I just thought it would be a good thing to do."

His debut novel, which will be on sale at the book signing for $14.99, offers a fresh, realistic portrayal of minor characters in the New Testament in ways in which the 21st century reader can relate.

Sapphira, a half-breed Jewish outcast and Domidicus, a high-ranking Roman army officer sworn to carry out his emperor's edicts are caught up in the intrigue of Herod's court. They witness the cruelty and immorality of the dying king until a predestined encounter with the Christ child changes their lives.

"The reader will be able to personally relate with the minor characters of the New Testament who actually met Christ and learn how He affected them depending on their backgrounds, beliefs and personal motivations," Brann said.

The religious educator and author of the Newagen series of short stories is a historian and bible scholar with more than 30 years of experience teaching little-known facts about the Bible.

"The purpose of the book is to give us a new appreciation and insight into the Bible," he said.

Published by Xulon Press, a part of Salem Communication's Corporation, Sapphira's Song can be found at The Open Door Christian Bookstore in Randolph and the Maine State Library. It also can be ordered online through Amazon.com .

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com