In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spitrit One God AMEN.

Apostles Fast | Tsome Hawariyat

When the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then they will fast

(Matthew 9:15).

At one time the Pharisees asked our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to 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). When our lord and savior ascend to the heaven, as He ordered and foretold them, the Apostles started their fast the day after the Pentecost.

The Apostles' Fast is one of the oldest fast, and the first kind of fasting kept by the Christian Church. The fast of the apostles varies in length, depending upon the date of Easter, and maybe a minimum of 14 days and maximum of 44. During the Apostles' Fast, the Holy Spirit spoke to 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 way." (Acts 13:2-3)

The twelve apostles formed the inner core of the Lord Jesus Christ's earthly ministry. They were personally chosen by the Lord Himself (Mark 3:14), and had the power of working miracles, and were inspired to teach and to do extraordinary mission work. On the Feast of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down on the apostles and they became great, giving witness with the power of the life and death and the resurrection of Jesus as He declared they should.

Acts of the Apostles portrays the apostles as leaders of the first church in Jerusalem during the Church's first decade. The apostles truly established the church and with their fast we contemplate the glory of God, their faith, and hardships in which they overcame. On this fast we, followers of Jesus apostles, should prove and preach our belief is the one that Christ founded on the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles. As God thought them to pray and fast, and followed his steps, we must follow Apostles foot to have a part in the heavenly house. Apostle Paul in his first letter to Corinthians reminds and orders us to imitate the apostle, just as they also imitate Christ. Therefore, we have to pray, fast and imitate as our Holy Fathers to see and feel the Sprit of God that worked through them.

Fasting is a period of spiritual discipline and reward; a time of prayer, study and humility. "I speak not, indeed, of such a fast as most persons keep, but of real fasting; not merely an abstinence from meats; but from sins too." Saint John Chrysostom
May God protect us and bless all of us!

Amen.

God Bless.May the Prayers and Intercession of the Virgin Mary Mother of God, Angels and Saints be with all of us.

Dn. Medhanie Kifle

Reference:

-Holy Bible