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The Apostles Fast begins tomorrow evening after Vespers. Does anyone keep this fast anymore?
I know that it is voluntary but I am surprised that no one has even mentioned the fast. My parish didn't announce it at all this evening at Liturgy. Is even the very idea of fasting being done away with ? Why ???

Ludmilla

I have no idea how many people keep this fast, but I intend to keep it.

I think the recommendations at the very bottom of this page might work well for most of us living in the world:

http://www.stlukeorthodox.com/html/parishinfo/fasting.htm

Jason

The Apostles Fast, as well as the other "minor" fasts (Dormition, St. Philip's) are very much alive and well in some places.

It is unfortunate that the fast was not mentioned at your parish. It is such a beneficial ascetic practice if one is able physically.

Thanks to all for their responses !

I plan to follow the Apostles fast as best as I can and am actually looking forward to it as I do all seasons of fasting in the church. I believe that I always gain some spiritual growth through fasting and am certainly in need of that growth !
What else I also find interesting is that aside from me the Apostle fast has not been mentioned anyplace else on this site recently. If I am not mistaken they usually list the upcoming Feasts and Fasts on the home page. Must be an oversight.
Anyway have an enriching fast.

Ludmilla

St. Georges Melkite in Birmingham keeps the fast. We start with Compline tomorrow evening to begin the fast.

Pani Rose

Hello everyone!

I was wondering if any of you might be so kind as to provide me with some more information about the Apostle's Fast.

What exactly does one fast/abstain from during this time?

How long is this fast?

Is this fast limited to the Byzantine/Ruthenian Church? Or does it also include the other Eastern Churches like the Maronites?

Is this fast mandatory (but not very well enforced) or optional for the Byzantine Church?

I ask because I attended liturgy at a UOC this morning and the priest spoke about how this fast was starting and that he knew it would be especially tough because of all the picnics, grilling, etc., but that people should still keep it as best as they can.

So, I would like to know about the Eastern Orthodox position on these fasts. I'd wanted to ask the priest, but unfortunately I did not have the chance to ask Father before I left, so I hope that you do not mind if I ask you kind folks.

Is this fast practiced by all of the Eastern Orthodox Churches? Is it optional for them or mandatory?

If there is anything else I should know about the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Church's and the fasts/fasting please let me know!

In Christ,
Aaron

Yes.

For my jurisdiction, it's as mandatory as any fast.

Some jurisdictions hold to a more strict fast than others. I can't speak for why restrictions are so different from Church to Church.

Also, Civil Calendar jurisdictions fast from June 7th through June 28th. "Old" Calendar jurisdictions fast from (Civil Calendar dates) June 7th through July 11th.

I'm not sure why the Byzantine Catholic Church has moved away from this fast. I don't know if it's because most of the people don't observe it, Civil Calendar issues, or something else.

I believe most people on this forum follow the fast.

Maybe its too monastic , whatever that means ???

It's indicated on my BCC wall calendar.

Liturgically this first day of the Apostles Fast is one of the days appointed for the reading of the Interhours, or penitential hours appended to each of the Little Hours (1,3,6,9). Also the Prayer of St. Ephraim can be said at the conclusion of the penitential troparia of Vespers on Mon-Thursday nights.

The fasting regs do vary somewhat between jurisdictions. Fasting should always be done with not only the letter of the law in consideration, but also the physical state of the person and especially taking into account the guidance of his/her spiritual father.

The Apostles Fast is considered by some to be the oldest Fast of the Church, as the Apostles themselves fasted after Pentecost as can be seen in Acts.

In the book "Guide to the Domestic Church" published by the Melkite Church and available from God With Us Publishing, there is a section on the Apostles' Fast. They suggest assigning each day of this fast to one of their churches and that way their entire diocese is covered by prayer during the entire Fast. One parish a day.

I think it's a wonderful way to pray for an entire Church, diocese or eparchy. Of course, every diocese or eparchy would have to adapt it and maybe group parishes together or an entire state so that everyone is covered. I'm sure this could be quite a challenge, since some years the Apostles' Fast is several weeks and some years, it is quite short.

I'm happy to say that Rev Msr Vida reminded us of the fast and also gave us info in the bulletin so we are supposed to observe it in our parish.

I second the endorsement (?) of the book "Guide to the Domestic Church."

Every jurisdiction would do well to have a similar book adjusted to their traditions (and in English).

I probably shouldn't have sounded so tough on BCs. I just never heard much about the Apostles Fast outside of books.

Thank you everyone for your informative answers.

I attended Liturgy today at a Byzantine Catholic church and in the bulleting from the previous week it said:

I was wondering if the Orthodox (Eastern & Oriental) Churches also kept the same fasting regimen - insofar as if you fast on specific days or if it is all the way through the Fast and what you fast from.

Also, was this Fast always voluntary? If not, when did it become optional and why?

Sorry to be so bothersome with questions, but I do appreciate everyone's help!

In Christ,
Aaron

The Apostles' Fast is obligatory, in theory at least, for all of us seven-council-type Orthodox. The discipline of the fast has fallen into desuetude in many places, but that does not abolish the obligation. (As others have pointed out in this thread, the fasting rules are not to be applied with legalistic rigidity; there are legitimate reasons for mitigating them, but this can be done only with respect to individual cases, not as a blanket exemption for all who may find it inconvenient to fast.)

I recommend the article 'The True Nature of Fasting', in _The Lenten Triodion_, translated by Mother Mary and Archimandrite (now Bishop) Kallistos (Ware) (London: Faber & Faber, 1978; reprint edn, South Canaan, Pennsylvania: St Tikhon's Seminary Press, 1994), pp. 13-28.

One of the more obvious problems of the New Calendar is that in some years the Apostles' Fast disappears altogether.

Stephen

Glory to Jesus Christ!

From what I remember reading, the purging of the Apostles' Fast from the calendar and the subsequent moving away from it was the work of Bishop Elko and his squeezing of the onion domes.