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Fast of the Pure Apostles (June 8 - July 12)The History of the Apostles's Fast The Apostles's 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.! |
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