My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
THE APOSTLES’ FAST, JUNE 12-29
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TEACHES HOW WE SHOULD FAST
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a
sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may
appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have
their reward. But you when you fast, ANOINT YOUR HEAD AND
WASH YOUR FACE. SO THAT YOU DO NOT APPEAR TO
MEN TO BE FASTING, BUT TO YOUR FATHER WHO SEES IN
SECRET WILL REWARD YOU OPENLY” (Matthew 6:16-18).
The Apostle’s Fast is observed by Orthodox Christians with diligence and piety for their personal edification and as a source of spiritual strength. The Apostles’ Fast is one of two “lesser” fasts Orthodox Christians observe, the other being the “Nativity Fast” which begins on November 15 to December 24th or Christmas Eve.
It is, however, not well known by many of the faithful but is one of the oldest traditions. It is mentioned by Saint Athanasios the Great in the 4th century. There are many other sources that refer to the Apostles’ Fast as well. It commences on the day following the celebration of the Sunday of All Saints’ Day, which falls a week after Pentecost. The fast ends with the feast of Saints Peter and Paul held on June 29th. In more ancient periods the fast was most likely not connected with the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The practice, due to the celebration of the glorious and joyous feast of Pentecost, was rather a time of jubilation for it signified the consecration of the Holy Apostles by the Holy Spirit and the beginning of Christ’s Church on earth. Different traditions prescribed different lengths of the fasting period. For some the duration was for one week, others several weeks, and still others for only one day. For those Churches that adhere to the Old Calendar, the Fast duration can be very long (as long as forty-two days) or as short as eight days, depending upon when the Holy Pascha is celebrated. For Orthodox Churches that follow the New Calendar, there are some years in which there is there is no Apostles’ Fast at all.
Our Holy Orthodox Church encourages all the faithful to practice all fasting seasons for spiritual development and in strengthening their prayer life, their commitment to Christ, and to our Sacred Tradition. The epiphany of the Holy Apostles on that holy day on which God the Holy Spirit descended upon them was a day that transformed them from ordinary fishermen to “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Jesus Christ reveals to His holy Disciples “When He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all the Truth…and He will tell you things to come” (John 16:13). Orthodox Christians are cleansed of all sin and receive the grace of the Holy Spirit upon their baptism and chrismation and become true members of the body of Christ, the Church. As the Holy Apostles, Orthodox Christians are exhorted to emulate the lives of the Holy Apostles and live from that day on, a life of grace and sanctity.
Observing the fasting periods of the Holy Church, along with prayer, worship, and participation in the Divine Mysteries (Sacraments) of the Church creates a stronger spiritual bond between us and Our Savior Christ. He or she who fasts must not only fast from foods but also from vices such as slander, hate, jealousy, envy, vanity, evil thoughts, evil works, lying, greed, selfishness, pride, lust, lack of repentance for our sins, and the refusal to forgive our enemies, ego, apathy, laziness, murder, cruelty, and hypocrisy. These vices do greater damage to our souls than abstaining from certain foods. On the day of His Final Judgment, God will NOT judge us if we ate meat on Wednesday or Friday or if we kept the forty-day Lent, but on sins committed, our disobedience to His Commandments, our lack of repentance, our unrighteousness, and not showing love, mercy, and compassion to our neighbor and fellow man. God will judge us on how we used the gifts (talents) that He gave to each of us. A talent is a great sum of money and came to designate a special gift or endowment. We are accountable to Him for how we have invested His gift to us. We are stewards of every gift, using each for our own and our neighbor’s salvation. Idleness or indifference is a renunciation of God’s grace, as well as a lack of love for God and humanity. Since people are managers, or stewards of God’s gifts, each of us will give an account of how we used the “abundance” of gifts to us. [see Matthew 25:14-30]
Saint Paul speaking of fasting says, “For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let NOT him who eats despise him who does NOT eat, and let NOT him who does not eat judge him who eats; FOR GOD HAS RECEIVED HIM… He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks, and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks (Romans 14:2-6). A sincere Christian does not ever judge another person. The holy Apostle asks, “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4). Let us not imitate the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.
For those who wish to observe the Apostles’ Fast entails abstaining from meat and meat products, but consumption of fish, wine, and olive oil is permitted, however, not on Wednesdays or Fridays.
_____________
“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in His Divine Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 