Fast of Apostles
June 18, 2021
The Apostles, chosen by Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with the power of exertion of miracles and enthused to preach the Holy Gospel, were serving Him through His miraculous journey and later on were sanctioned on the first generation Christian believers upon the descended power of the Holy Spirit. At the first decade of Holy Church’s history, the apostles were portrayed as the leader of the first Church in Jerusalem. Holy Church recognizes Saints Peter and Saint Paul as the founder of Church for their faith and diligence is proven by Lord Jesus. They were its foundation of whom are the true establishers of Holy Church. The book of Acts demonstrates and witnesses the remarkable work of the Apostles during their era.
Ensuing their diligence and their spiritual power, they commenced “Fast of Apostles” after the Feast of Pentecost by the commemoration of the Holy Spirit descending upon them. The Apostles fast is the contemplation of “The glory of God, their faith, and hardships in which they overcame.”
On the Apostles’ Fast, the Holy Spirit called upon them; “As they ministered to the Lord and Fasted the Holy Spirit, said separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Matthew 9:15, Acts 13:2-3)
The duration of the Apostles fast depends upon the date of Easter, and therefore it varies from year to year. It always begins with the end of feast of Pentecost or with the Monday after Pentecost, and ends on July 12, the day that commemorates the martyrdom of the Apostles Peter and Paul.
Amid the apostles preaching’s and God’s inspiration in them, we shall contemplate in dread of the Apostles. Christians are to be reminded all the agony and sacrifice of Lord Jesus for the human race and the continuity of the expansion of Holy Gospel, Christianity and miraculous work through the work of Apostles.
The fast then is the reminder of all the work of the apostles and the expectation Christian conduct. So, throughout the fast, laities need to be diligent in prayer, obeisance and Christian conduct.
Unfortunate to us, the generations we inhabit is filled with evilness and satanic scheme. Hominid has lost natural pride and consumed with deviousness aparted from their creator God. As one of the trap of enemy Satan is the temptation for the consumption of variety and luscious food, we shall pray to rout our yarning. Prayer as well as abstaining from food consumption, is the power to defeat the demon inside fighting to exterminating inner limpidness and drag our soul. The season of the Fasts of the Apostles is the amongst those the period opportune to be diligent.
May the prayers, intercessions, and blessings of all the apostles be with us all through the Fast; Amen.