Fast of the Pure Apostles (June 8 - July 12)

Coptic icon of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

The Fast of the Apostles follows the Great Feast of Pentecost and precedes the Feast of the Apostles, which commemorates the martyrdom of Sts. Peter and Paul on Abib 5 (July 12.)

The History of the Apostles’ Fast

The Apostles’ Fast commemorates the service of the holy and pure apostles when they preached the good news of Christianity throughout the world.

This fast is firmly rooted in the Holy Scriptures. When the Pharisees criticized the apostles for not fasting, our Lord answered them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast"  (Matthew 9:15). For this reason, the Church begins this fast on the day after Pentecost, which is after Christ—the true bridegroom—had ascended into heaven and commissioned the apostles to preach the good news throughout the world.

There is ample evidence that this fast was in the Church as early as the mid-fifth century. Today, both Oriental and Eastern Orthodox churches fast this period while the rite has been lost in the western churches.

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the fast varies in length from 15 to 49 days depending on the date of the Feast of the Resurrection. During this fast, the faithful are allowed to eat vegan food and fish.

The Rites of the Apostles’ Fast

Throughout the Apostles’ Fast, the church prays in the annual tune. The following changes are made to the different liturgical services:

Vesper Praises (Tasbeha)

  • Before the Psalia of the day, the congregation chants the Psalia Watos for the Fast of the Apostles, Apen[oic Iycouc Pi`,rictoc.

Evening and Morning Raisings of Incense

Holy Liturgy

  • After the reading of the Pauline Epistle in the language of understanding, but before the reading of the Catholic Epistle in Coptic, the congregation chants the Hymn of the Apostles, Ontoc Aly;wc Gar
  • After the reading of the Catholic Epistle, the congregation adds the verse <ere na[oic to the Acts Response after <ere ne Maria and the verses for the respective saints of the church and the saints of the day
  • After the reading of the Synexarium, the congregation chants the melismatic hymn for the Fast and Feast of the Apostles, Nirwmi
  • At the conclusion of Nirwmi, the congregation chants its paralexis, Kurioc
  • The congregation chants the Aspasmos Adam, Nenio] `napoctoloc, after the Prayer of Reconciliation
  • The congregation chants the Aspasmos Watos, Nenio] e;ouab, instead of the hymn "The Cherubim worship You…"
  • During the DIstribution of the Mystery of the Eucharist, the congregation chants `N;wten de and Acwmen after Psalm 150