Understanding the Apostles Fast

There are several fasting seasons in the Orthodox Church.  The most well-known would be the Lenten Fast before Easter/Pascha, but there is also the Nativity fast leading up to Christmas, the Dormition Fast in August, and the Apostles Fast during the summer.

I never fully understood the reasons for this fast until I did a bit of research online:

Having rejoiced for fifty days following Pascha (Easter), the Apostles began to prepare for their departure from Jerusalem to spread Christ’s message. According to Sacred Tradition, as part of their preparation, they began a fast with prayer to ask God to strengthen their resolve and to be with them in their missionary undertakings.

The tradition of the Fast has existed at least since 461 AD, as is evidenced by Pope Leo’s homilies/sermons. The Fast is thought to have been instituted out of thanksgiving to God for the witness of the Apostles.

The Biblical foundation for the Fast is found in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), when the Pharisees criticized the Apostles for not fasting, Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Our Lord, in this passage, is expressing his command to preach the Gospel, which can only be accomplished with prayer and fasting. The New Testament mentions the practice of fasting many times.

Therefore, the Apostles Fast takes places fifty days after Pascha/Easter, so that after Christ’s death and resurrection, we take time to focus on prayer and fasting, just as the Apostles did nearly two thousand years ago.

For more information on fasting, please read my page: Why Do We Fast?

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