Sinusitis

Petrovsky fast: what can you eat? Why you can’t ignore Petrov’s fast. Why is Petrov's fast important, how to conduct it correctly

What date will Petrov's fast be in 2019? In 2019, Petrov's fast lasts from June 24 to July 11.

Who is it named after? What is the history of its origin? Read all this and much more in our article.

The emergence of Petrov's fast

7 days after the holiday (Pentecost) begins, in memory of the two most revered apostles Peter and Paul.

The establishment of Peter's fast - previously called the fast of Pentecost - dates back to the very first times of the Orthodox Church. It was especially established when in Constantinople and Rome St. equal to Constantine the Great (d. 337; commemorated May 21) erected churches in honor of Sts. the supreme apostles Peter and Paul. The consecration of the Constantinople temple took place on the day of remembrance of the apostles, June 29 (old style; i.e. July 12, new), and since then this day has become especially solemn in both the East and the West. This is the day the fast ends. Its initial border is mobile: it depends on the day of Easter celebration; therefore, the length of fasting varies from 6 weeks to a week and one day.

People called Petrovka’s fast simply “Petrovka” or “Petrovka-hunger strike”: at the beginning of summer there was little left of the last harvest, and the new one was still far away. But why is the post still Petrovsky? Why the Apostolic is clear: the apostles always prepared themselves for service by fasting and prayer (remember how, when the disciples asked why they could not cast out demons, the Lord explained to them that this kind comes only through prayer and fasting (see Mark 9:29)), and therefore the Church calls us to this summer fast, following the example of those who, having received the Holy Spirit on the day of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost), “in labor and in exhaustion, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often” (2 Cor. 11:27) prepared for the worldwide preaching of the Gospel. And calling the post “Peter and Paul” is simply inconvenient - it’s too cumbersome; It just so happens that when we call the names of the apostles, we pronounce the name of Peter first.

The holy apostles were so different: Peter, the elder brother of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, was a simple, uneducated, poor fisherman; Paul is the son of rich and noble parents, a Roman citizen, a student of the famous Jewish teacher of the law Gamaliel, “a scribe and a Pharisee.” Peter is a faithful disciple of Christ from the very beginning, a witness to all the events of his life from the moment he went out to preach.

Paul is the worst enemy of Christ, who incited hatred of Christians in himself and asked the Sanhedrin for permission to persecute Christians everywhere and bring them bound to Jerusalem. Peter, of little faith, denied Christ three times, but repented contritely and became the beginning of Orthodoxy, the foundation of the Church. And Paul, who fiercely resisted the truth of the Lord, and then just as fervently believed.

An inspirational simpleton and a fierce orator, Peter and Paul personified spiritual strength and intelligence, two much-needed missionary qualities. After all, no matter how the call to missionary work should resonate with us, Petrovsky’s parish, i.e. Apostolic post? The Lord sent apostles into the world in order to teach all nations: “Go therefore, teach all nations... teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19; 20). “If you do not want to teach and admonish yourself in Christianity, then you are not a disciple and not a follower of Christ, - the apostles were not sent for you, - you are not what all Christians were from the very beginning of Christianity...” (Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow. Words and speeches: in 5 vols. T. 4. – M., 1882. pp. 151-152).

Questions and answers about Peter's Fast

What date is Petrov's fast in 2019?

When was Peter's Fast established?

The establishment of Peter's Fast dates back to the first times of the Orthodox Church.

The church establishment of this fast is mentioned in the apostolic decrees: “After Pentecost, celebrate one week, and then fast; justice requires both rejoicing after receiving gifts from God, and fasting after relieving the flesh.”

But this post was especially established when churches were built in Constantinople and Rome, which had not yet fallen away from Orthodoxy, in the name of the supreme apostles Peter and Paul. The consecration of the Constantinople temple took place on the day of remembrance of the apostles on June 29 (according to the new style - July 12), and since then this day has become especially solemn in both the East and the West. The Orthodox Church has established the preparation of pious Christians for this holiday by fasting and prayer.

Since the 4th century, the testimonies of the Church Fathers about apostolic fasting have become more and more frequent; St. Athanasius the Great, Ambrose of Milan, and in the 5th century - Leo the Great and Theodoret of Cyrus.

St. Athanasius the Great, describing in his defensive speech to Emperor Constantius the disasters caused to Orthodox Christians by the Arians, says: “The people who fasted in the week following St. Pentecost, he went to the cemetery to pray.”

Why does Peter's Fast follow the day of Pentecost?

The Day of Pentecost, when on the fiftieth day after His descent from the grave and on the tenth day after His Ascension, the Lord, seated at the right hand of the Father, sent down the Holy Spirit on all His disciples and apostles, is one of the greatest holidays. This is the making of a new everlasting covenant with people, which was foretold by the prophet Jeremiah: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not such a covenant as I made with their fathers in the day when took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; They broke that covenant of mine, although I remained in covenant with them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law within them, and write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. And they will no longer teach one another, brother to brother, and say, “Know the Lord,” for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord, because I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more” (Jer. . 31,31-34).

The Holy Spirit who descended on the apostles, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, instead of Sinai, inscribed the new Law of Zion, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of flesh of the heart (2 Cor. 3:3). The place of the Sinai law was taken by the grace of the Holy Spirit, law-giving, giving strength to fulfill the Law of God, pronouncing justification not by works, but by grace.

We do not fast on Pentecost because on these days the Lord was with us. We do not fast because He Himself said: Can you force the sons of the bridal chamber to fast when the bridegroom is with them? (Luke 5:34). Communication with the Lord is like food for a Christian. So, during Pentecost we feed on the Lord who deals with us.

“After the long feast of Pentecost, fasting is especially necessary in order to purify our thoughts through it and become worthy of the gifts of the Holy Spirit,” writes St. Leo the Great.- This festival, which the Holy Spirit sanctified with His descent, is usually followed by a nationwide fast, beneficially established for the healing of soul and body, and therefore requiring that we accompany it with due good will. For we have no doubt that after the apostles were filled with the power promised from above, and the Spirit of truth dwelt in their hearts, among other secrets of heavenly teaching, at the inspiration of the Comforter, the teaching of spiritual abstinence was also taught, so that hearts, purified by fasting, would become more capable to the acceptance of grace-filled gifts, ... it is impossible to fight with the upcoming efforts of the persecutors and the fierce threats of the wicked in a pampered body and fattened flesh, since what delights our outer man destroys the inner one, and on the contrary, the more the rational soul is purified, the more the flesh is mortified.

That is why the teachers, who enlightened all the children of the Church with example and instruction, marked the beginning of the battle for Christ with a holy fast, so that, going out to battle against spiritual corruption, we would have a weapon for this in abstinence, with which we could kill sinful lusts, for our invisible opponents and bodiless enemies will not overcome us if we do not indulge in carnal lusts. Although the tempter has a constant and unchanging desire to harm us, it remains powerless and ineffective when he does not find in us a side from which he can attack...
For this reason, an unchangeable and saving custom has been established - after the holy and joyful days that we celebrate in honor of the Lord, who rose from the dead and then ascended into heaven, and after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, to go through the field of fasting.

This custom must be diligently observed in order for those gifts that are now given to the Church from God to remain in us. Having become temples of the Holy Spirit and, more than ever, having been filled with Divine waters, we must not submit to any lusts, we must not serve any vices, so that the home of virtue is not defiled by anything ungodly.

With the help and assistance of God, we can all achieve this, if only, by cleansing ourselves with fasting and almsgiving, we try to free ourselves from the defilements of sin and bear the abundant fruits of love.” Further St. Leo of Rome writes: “Of the apostolic rules that God Himself inspired, the church leaders, at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were the first to establish that all deeds of virtue should begin with fasting.

They did this because the commandments of God can be fulfilled well only when the army of Christ is protected from all temptations of sin by holy abstinence.

So, beloved, we must practice fasting primarily at the present time, in which we are commanded to fast, after the end of the fifty days that have elapsed from the resurrection of Christ until the descent of the Holy Spirit and which we have spent in a special celebration.

Therefore, we are now obliged to carefully preserve those seeds that we have received into our hearts from the heavenly Sower, and to beware lest an envious enemy somehow spoil what was given by God, and thorns of vices do not grow in the paradise of virtues. This evil can only be warded off by mercy and fasting.

Bl. Simeon of Thessaloniki writes that fasting was established in honor of the apostles, “because through them we were granted many blessings and they became for us leaders and teachers of fasting, obedience... and abstinence. The Latins also testify to this against their will, honoring the apostles with fasting in their memory. But we, in accordance with the apostolic decrees drawn up by Clement, after the descent of the Holy Spirit, celebrate for one week, and then, the next week, we honor the apostles who gave us over to fast.”

Why are the apostles Peter and Paul called supreme?

According to the testimony of the word of God, the apostles occupy a special place in the Church - everyone should understand us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 4:1).

Endowed with equal power from above and the same power to forgive sins, all the apostles will sit on twelve thrones next to the Son of Man (Matthew 19:28).

Although some of the apostles were distinguished in Scripture and tradition, for example Peter, Paul, John, James and others, not one of them was the main or even superior in honor to the rest.

But since the Acts of the Apostles mainly narrates the works of the apostles Peter and Paul, the Church and the holy fathers, reverent at the name of each of the apostles, call these two supreme.

The Church glorifies the Apostle Peter as the one who began from among the apostles to confess Jesus Christ as the Son of the living God; Paul, as if he labored more than others and was numbered among the highest of the apostles by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. II, 5); one - for firmness, the other - for bright wisdom.

By calling the two apostles supreme in terms of the primacy of order and work, the Church suggests that its head is Jesus Christ alone, and all the apostles are His servants (Col. 1:18).

The Holy Apostle Peter, who before his calling bore the name Simon, the elder brother of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, was a fisherman. He was married and had children. In the words of St. John Chrysostom, he was a fiery man, unbookish, simple, poor and God-fearing. He was brought to the Lord by his brother Andrei, and at the first glance at a simple fisherman, the Lord predicted for him the name Cephas, in Syriac, or in Greek - Peter, that is, stone. After the election of Peter to the number of the apostles, the Lord visited his poor home and healed his mother-in-law from a fever (Mark 1:29-31).

Among His three disciples, the Lord deigned Peter to be a witness of His Divine glory on Tabor, His Divine power at the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:37) and His humiliation according to humanity in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Peter washed away his renunciation of Christ with bitter tears of repentance, and was the first of the apostles to enter the tomb of the Savior after His resurrection, and the first of the apostles was honored to see the Risen One.
The Apostle Peter was an outstanding preacher. The power of his word was so great that he converted three or five thousand people to Christ. According to the word of the Apostle Peter, those convicted of a crime fell dead (Acts 5:5.10), the dead were resurrected (Acts 9:40), the sick were healed (Acts 9:3-34) even from the touch of one shadow of a passing apostle ( Acts 5:15).

But he did not have primacy of power. All church matters were decided by the common voice of the apostles and elders with the entire Church.

The Apostle Paul, speaking about the apostles, revered as pillars, puts James in first place, and then Peter and John (Gal. 2:9), but he ranks himself among them (2 Cor. 11:5) and compares him with Peter. The Council sends Peter to the work of ministry in the same way as other disciples of Christ.

The Apostle Peter made five journeys, preaching the Gospel and converting many to the Lord. He ended his last journey in Rome, where he preached the faith of Christ with great zeal, increasing the number of disciples. In Rome, the Apostle Peter exposed the deception of Simon the Magus, who pretended to be Christ, and converted two wives loved by Nero to Christ.

By order of Nero, on June 29, 67, the Apostle Peter was crucified. He asked his tormentors to crucify himself head down, wanting to show the difference between his suffering and the suffering of his Divine Teacher.

The story of the conversion of the holy Apostle Paul, who previously bore the Hebrew name Saul, is wonderful.

Saul, brought up in the Jewish law, hated and tormented the Church of Christ, and even asked the Sanhedrin for the power to find and persecute Christians everywhere. Saul tormented the church, entering houses and dragging out men and women, putting them in prison (Acts 8:3). One day, “Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest and asked him for letters to Damascus to the synagogues, so that whoever he found following this teaching, both men and women, would be tied up and brought to Jerusalem. As he walked and approached Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting Me? He said: Who are you, Lord? The Lord said: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It's hard for you to go against the grain. He said in awe and horror: Lord! what do you want me to do? and the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the city; and it will be told to you what you need to do. The people walking with him stood in a daze, hearing the voice but not seeing anyone. Saul rose from the ground, and with open eyes didn't see anyone. And they led him by the hands and brought him to Damascus. And for three days he did not see, nor did he eat, nor did he drink” (Acts 9:1-9).

A persistent persecutor of Christianity becomes a tireless preacher of the Gospel. Paul's life, actions, words, epistles - everything testifies to him as a chosen vessel of God's grace. Neither sorrow, nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor danger, nor sword could weaken the love for God in Paul’s heart.

He made constant journeys to different countries to preach the Gospel to the Jews and especially to the pagans. These travels were accompanied by extraordinary power of preaching, miracles, tireless work, inexhaustible patience and high holiness of life. Proceedings apostolic ministry Paul were unparalleled. He said about himself: he labored more than all of them (1 Cor. 15:10). For his labors, the apostle endured innumerable sorrows. In the year 67, on June 29, at the same time as the Apostle Peter, he suffered martyrdom in Rome. As a Roman citizen he was beheaded by the sword.

Orthodox Church honors the apostles Peter and Paul as those who enlightened the darkness, glorifies Peter’s firmness and Paul’s mind, and contemplates in them the image of the conversion of those who sin and those who are corrected in the Apostle Peter - the image of one who rejected the Lord and repented; in the Apostle Paul - the image of one who resisted the preaching of the Lord and then believed.

How long does Peter's fast last?

Peter's Fast depends on whether Easter occurs sooner or later, and therefore its duration varies. It always begins with the end of the Triodion, or after the week of Pentecost, and ends on July 12th.

The longest fast is six weeks, and the shortest is a week and one day.

Antioch Patriarch Theodore Balsamon (12th century) says: “Seven days or more before the feast of Peter and Paul, all the faithful, that is, laymen and monks, are obliged to fast, and those who do not fast will be excommunicated from the communion of Orthodox Christians.”

Petrov fast: what can you eat?

The feat of Petrov's Lent is less strict than Lent ( Lent): during Peter's Fast, the Church charter prescribes weekly - on Wednesdays and Fridays - to abstain from fish. On Saturdays and Sundays of this fast, as well as on the days of remembrance of some great saint or the days of a temple holiday, fish is also allowed.

Petrov (or Apostolic) fast-one of the main multi-day church fasts (along with the Great, Dormition, and Nativity fasts). The purpose of each of these fasts is to prepare a person for a worthy meeting of great holidays and to promote transformation and renewal of the soul, just as nature itself is renewed four times a year. The tradition of fasting was born among ancient Christians, so that it would be easier for people to feel the greatness of the holiday. We are called to observe the Apostolic Fast following the example of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, the great saints of God (it is not for nothing that they are called supreme, that is, especially significant).

From the history of the establishment of the Apostolic Fast
The establishment of this post was first mentioned in the 3rd century. The “Apostolic Tradition” of St. Hippolytus of Rome says that this fast, which follows a week after Trinity (therefore, the fast of Peter previously also had the name of the fast of Pentecost), is called upon to perform a kind of compensatory function: if the “field” of human flesh is not constantly cultivated, then such weeds can easily grow, which will bear poor fruit, naturally sent to be burned. Apostolic post was established in memory of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, because, according to biblical history, they themselves, having received the Holy Spirit on the day of Trinity (Pentecost), through fasting and prayer, like the Lord, prepared for the worldwide preaching of the Gospel.
The Apostolic Fast is mentioned, in particular, in connection with the construction of churches in Rome (then still in the fold of Orthodoxy) and Constantinople in honor of the supreme apostles. The Church of Constantinople, according to history, was consecrated precisely on the day of remembrance of Saints Peter and Paul, who became martyrs on June 29 (July 12 - according to the new style).
Since the beginning of the 4th century, patristic testimonies about the Fast of Peter are found more and more often, for example, it is mentioned by Saints Athanasius the Great and Ambrose of Milan, and later by Saint Leo the Great and Blessed Theodoret of Cyrus (this is already the 5th century).

Why are the holy apostles Peter and Paul called supreme?
As is known, there were initially twelve apostles. Although some of them (for example, Peter, John, Paul and James) are mentioned more often than others in the Gospel, according to tradition, none of them was the main one and did not surpass others in honor.
Since the book of the Acts of the Apostles talks primarily about the works performed by the apostles Peter and Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, the holy fathers of the Church, bowing before each of the apostles, especially noted Peter and Paul, endowing them with the epithet “highest.”
The Church glorifies the Apostle Peter as the first of the apostolic community who confessed our Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of the living God; Paul - because he worked more than anyone else in the field of Christ; the first - for strength of spirit, the second - for wisdom.

Duration of Petrov's fast
The duration of the Apostolic Fast depends on the date of Holy Easter. Traditionally, it begins a week after Trinity, and ends on June 28 according to the old style, unless the day of remembrance of the chief apostles falls on Wednesday or Friday (otherwise, fasting must be observed on the holiday as well). The longest Petrov fast can be for a period of six weeks, and the shortest - for a period of eight days.
The Code of Laws of the Orthodox Church required all Christians (both laymen and monastics) to fast seven days or more before the day of honoring the memory of the supreme ones (that is, at least a week before the holiday), and those who did not fast were to be excommunicated from the society of Orthodox Christians.

The meaning of the Apostolic (and not only) fast
Once a certain sage compared a person’s soul to a musician, and his body to his instrument. When an instrument is damaged, the musician, no matter how hard he tries, is unable to extract harmonious sounds from it. Conversely, if a musician is sick, the instrument, as a rule, remains silent. But this is just a metaphor. In a healthy body, the soul sings and praises God, because the body and soul constitute a single human personality.
Christian life is unthinkable without heroic deeds. Fasting is a kind of small feat. Thanks to him, the body becomes an exquisite instrument that is able to capture every movement of the musician - the soul. Figuratively speaking, it turns from an African drum into a beautiful violin belonging to Stradivarius. Fasting helps restore the hierarchy of a person’s internal forces, subordinating the complex mental organization to higher spiritual goals.

Meal of the Apostolic Lent
Peter's Fast is considered less strict than Pentecost - according to the church charter, only products of animal origin (that is, meat and dairy) are traditionally excluded from the diet. Allowed to be used for food herbal products and fish, wine. In addition, on Wednesdays and Fridays laymen are forbidden to consume fish and vegetable oil, as well as wine (monastics - also on Monday). On Saturdays and every Sunday of Peter's Lent, as well as on days of honoring the memory of great saints or days of patronal holidays, fish is also allowed.
However, fasting, like some church provisions, especially in our time, is in danger of losing its true meaning and becoming useless - if formally observed, it is no different from the so-called diet.

Troparion (to the holy chief apostles Peter and Paul), tone 4:
The first apostles and universal teachers, pray to the Lord of all to grant peace to the universe and show mercy to our souls.

Kontakion (to the holy chief apostles Peter and Paul), tone 2:
Firm and divinely preached preachers, the top of Thy apostles, O Lord, Thou didst accept into the enjoyment of Thy good things and peace: for Thou didst accept sickness and death for them more than all fruitfulness, the One who knows the heart.

Greatness:
We magnify you, /Christ’s apostles Peter and Paul, /who enlightened the whole world with your teachings /and brought everything to Christ.

Prayer to the Holy Apostle Peter:
O Saint Peter, great apostle, self-witness and companion of God, received by the omnipotent right hand of your Teacher from the troubled waters and extreme drowning! Do not forget us, the poor, stuck in the mire of sin and drowned by the waves of the sea of life, give us your strong hand, help us and keep us from drowning in passions, lusts, lies and slander. Do with us the mercy shown to you by the Lord, so that we do not give in to doubt and lack of faith. Teach us, our teacher, to shed a tear of repentance, so that we may weep bitterly for our deeds in this world. And if your tears, poured out in repentance, are covered by His mercy, the Lord and your Teacher, ask for us, with apostolic boldness, forgiveness in the turmoil of our hourly renunciation of Christ. Preserve this city, cast down at your holy feet, and protect our salvation from the wily machinations of the enemy of our salvation; Raise up your reverend hands to the Lord for our people, so that we may live a quiet and silent life in this world until the hour to which the Lord Lord, our impartial Judge, will call us. But you, O all-praised apostle, do not reject our cry and groaning to you about our intercession before Christ, so that we may glorify His mercy towards us together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Apostle Paul:
O holy supreme Apostle Paul, the chosen vessel of Christ, the teller of heavenly mysteries, the teacher of all languages, the church trumpet, the notorious orbit, who endured many troubles for the name of Christ, who measured the sea and walked the earth and turned us from the flattery of idols! I pray to you and cry to you: do not disdain my foul (name), raise up the one who has fallen through sinful laziness, just as you raised the temple in Lystrek from your mother’s womb; and just as Eutychus, who was dead, was revived, raise me also from dead deeds; and just as with your prayer you once shook the foundation of the prison and you allowed the prisoners to do the will of God. For all you can do by the authority given to you from Christ God, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, with His Beginning Father, and with His Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

During Peter's Fast, one should abstain from animal products, and on Wednesdays and Fridays also from fish. The very strict monastic charter implies stricter restrictions on fish and a refusal to vegetable oil on some days. But this is a strict monastic charter. Laymen (not monks), as a rule, fast more softly during Peter's Lent. Traditionally, the rule was established to exclude animal food on all days of fasting and fish on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Moreover, if on Wednesday or Friday the memory of a holy temple or a saint who is entitled to “ all-night vigil", then eating fish is also allowed on these days.

We must also understand that everyone may have their own personal circumstances that affect the amount of fasting. It is best to discuss such situations with your confessor.

Petrovsky (Petrov) fast is a multi-day summer fast that prepares Christians for the day of remembrance of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, which the Orthodox Church celebrates on July 12

The apostles Peter and Paul were called to serve Jesus Christ and the Church in different ways, but according to legend, both ended their lives as martyrs - the apostle Peter was crucified upside down on the cross, and Paul was beheaded with a sword. Therefore, Peter's Fast is also called Apostolic Fast.

The beginning of the Petrine Fast does not have a fixed date - it always begins on Monday a week after the feast of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost) - in 2018 it falls on June 4.

And the date of Trinity depends on the day of Easter, so the beginning of Peter's Lent falls on different dates and lasts from 8 to 42 days.

The essence and meaning of the post

Peter's Fast was established in apostolic times and dates back to the very first times of the Orthodox Church. It used to be called the fast of Pentecost. The Petrine or Apostolic fast became after the construction of churches to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Constantinople and Rome.

Peter's Fast, like any of the four multi-day fasts a year, calls for self-improvement, victory over sins and passions and prepares Christians with fasting and prayer for the celebration of the day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

The clergy believe that spiritual life without fasting is impossible - this is an ascetic truth, for which it is paid with blood. But Petrov's fast is not only a memory of past persecutions from external enemies.

According to the Gospel, the main enemy is not the one who kills the body, but the one who is rooted inside the soul. History remembers cases when baptized people forgot about love for God and neighbor and returned to their previous sins, and fasting reminds of such danger, church ministers note.

For a Christian, hunger and refusal of food in themselves are not good, since the need for food is natural for humans. Fasting serves to educate the will, which is important for morality, since by fasting a person learns to subordinate his bodily needs to the spirit.

During the days of fasting, the church encourages people to think about humility and martyrdom, as well as to evaluate the spiritual feat of each of the apostles. Martyrdom in Orthodoxy is one of the key phenomena. It is to go to torment and humbly accept it that is the highest spiritual feat.

Petrov's Fast is also given in order to make up for lost time in Lent. This is a way out for those who, due to illness, travel, or other reasons, were unable to observe Lent before Easter.

What you can and cannot eat during Peter's Fast

Peter's Fast, unlike the Great Fast, is not so strict. It begins on Monday, the 57th day after Easter (a week after Trinity). In 2018, it falls on June 4, and the last day of fasting is July 11. Accordingly, in 2018 it lasts 38 days.

During this period, you also cannot eat meat, dairy products, eggs, but fish is allowed on some days of the week. The basis of the Lenten table is vegetables, herbs and dishes prepared from them, as well as cereals, fruits, berries and dried fruits.

During this fast, the consumption of hot food without oil is prescribed on Monday, fish is allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and dry eating (bread, water, salt, raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, honey) is allowed on Wednesdays and Fridays. And on weekends, a little wine is allowed.

The Day of Remembrance of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, which is celebrated on July 12, is not included in fasting. However, if it falls on Wednesday or Friday, then it is fast, but of a low degree of severity - food with oil, fish and wine are allowed.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov said that “true fasting does not consist in exhaustion of the flesh alone, but also in giving that part of the bread that you yourself would like to eat to the hungry (hungry, thirsty)... Fasting does not consist only in eating rarely, but in eating little; and not in eating once, but in not eating much.”

How to fast

Petrov's fast is considered the easiest fast for the entire calendar year. But even when starting this, not the most strict, fast, you need to consult with your confessor and your doctor if you have any chronic diseases.

In general, the laity is not entitled to such strict fast, like monks, for whom the Charter provides for more strict rules. During fasting, foods should also be excluded from the menu. instant cooking, that is, fast food, confectionery and baked goods.

At the same time, it should be remembered that fasting is spiritual cleansing and only in second place is abstinence from food. It should not promote weight loss, but strengthening in a person spiritual origin. Therefore, it is very important to pray, confess and receive communion during Lent.

But, if for some reason a layman cannot follow all the rules of fasting, he can limit himself to other, non-gastronomic things. For example, do not watch TV or use social networks on the Internet.

Traditions and customs

According to church canons, the sacrament of marriage - the wedding does not take place during church holidays, fasts and individual temple holidays. Accordingly, weddings during Peter's Fast and on Peter's Day are not permitted.

To live long and happy family life, it is recommended to wait out Petrov's fast. You should also postpone conceiving children until after the fast. According to folk customs, the wedding was not held on Petrov Fast for other reasons.

Petrov fast is held in the summer, during the high season field work, so there has been a centuries-old tradition of not holding weddings at this time. Modern rural youth also adhere to this tradition.

Even more ancient tradition claims that the souls of the dead visit the Earth at this time, and cheerful celebrations are disrespectful to their memory.

Signs for Petrov's fast

During fasting, you should not cut your hair - your hair will be sparse. During Lent they do not sew or do handicrafts - their hands will be weak. Whoever lends money during Peter's Fast will not get out of debt for three years.

A marriage concluded during Lent is short-lived, there will be no harmony in the family, and it will soon fall apart. If during Peter's Fast, at the end of the moon, you touch a dry branch with a wart, saying: just as during Lent the meat on the platter is empty, so that the wart is thin, then the wart will dry out and fall off. If the commemoration coincides with fasting, then according to the rules the commemoration must also be fasting. But there is nothing terrible in the fact that there was quick food on the table on such a day. If during fasting, during a feast, someone persuades a fasting person to eat meat, ridiculing him or the fast, then he will die hard and for a long time.

Petrov's fast is not a time for fortune-telling, rituals, or performing magical rituals. This way you can bring disaster on yourself and your loved ones, left without support higher powers. It is better to devote time to prayers and sincerely ask Heaven for what you want.

If it rains on the first day of fasting, the harvest will be excellent. Three rains in one day - the year promises to be rich in joyful events.

This calendar is presented in accordance with the strict monastic regulations. Based on it, you can understand which days of fasting are more strict and which days are less strict. But exactly what limitation will be used to measure your measure of the severity of fasting should be determined from personal experience, circumstances and after consulting with your confessor or a priest you know.

Petrov fast by day

Petrov fast is one of two summer fasts. It prepares Christians for the day of remembrance of the holy supreme apostles Peter and Paul (July 12) and was established in memory of how the apostles fasted before preaching Christianity to the whole world. During Lent itself, each day also has its own special meaning. Read more about each day of Peter's Lent in our material.

In response to the question “How to conduct Peter’s Fast correctly?”, first of all, I would advise readers of the Thomas website not to miss this post at all. Let us not pretend that during this time of summer Lent we will also be ready to focus on personal repentance, as in the sad days of Lent. But this does not mean that you need to give up on him. Here it is worth approaching from a slightly different angle. Find some purpose, in addition to food restrictions, which must also be consistent with your strengths.

Let us remember that Petrov's fast is dedicated to the memory of the apostles. The apostles are the first preachers of Christianity, the first missionaries. So, if in these weeks we focused a little more on not giving temptation to people with our lives, not pushing them away from the church - this is something that everyone can definitely do. We would try to make our faith more conscious. We have somewhat expanded our knowledge of church traditions, so that the answers to those around us would not come from the wind of our heads, but from some knowledge of church tradition. If we read at least 2-3 books that will deepen our understanding of Orthodoxy, if we work a little instead of sitting on social networks or in front of the TV, then the meaning of fasting will be fulfilled.

Petrov fast is one of two summer fasts. It prepares Christians for the day of remembrance of the holy supreme apostles Peter and Paul (July 12) and was established in memory of how the apostles fasted before preaching Christianity to the whole world. During Lent itself, each day also has its own special meaning. We offer readers of “Thomas” a short story about each day of Peter’s Lent with links to the site’s publications about some saints and shrines.

The first day of Peter's fast.

Mch. Basilisk (308). Mch. John-Vladimir, book. Serbian (1015). Right Jacob Borovichsky, Novgorod miracle worker (c. 1540).
St. fathers II Ecumenical Council(381). Sschmch. Michael the Presbyter (1942).

St. Michael, ep. Sinadsky (821). Finding the relics of St. Leontia, bishop Rostovsky (1164) . Cathedral of Rostov-Yaroslavl Saints. Prmch. Michael the Monk (IX). St. Euphrosyne, Abbess of Polotsk (1173). St. Paisius of Galich (1460).Discovery of the relics of the MCC. Evdokia, Daria, Daria and Maria (2001).

St. Simeon the Stylite of Divnogorets (596). St. Nikita, stylite of Pereyaslavl (1186). false Xenia of St. Petersburg (glorification 1988). Mchch. Meletius Stratilates, Stephen, John, Serapion the Egyptian, Callinicus the Magus, Theodore and Faustus, and with them 1218 warriors with their wives and children (c. 218).

The third discovery of the head of the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John (c. 850). Sschmch. Ferapont, bishop. Cyprus (IV). St. Innocent, Archbishop. Khersonsky (1857). Prmts. Helena (1938). Prmch. Tavrion (1939).

App. from 70 Carp and Alpheus (I). St. Varlaam Khutynsky (1192). Mch. George the New (1515). Mchch. Averky and Elena (I). St. John Psychaita isp (IX). Finding the relics of St. Macarius of Kalyazin (1521).Tabynskaya and “The Sign” of the Kursk-Root Icons Mother of God.

Sschmch. Ferapont, bishop. Sardinian (III). Finding the relics of St. Nil Stolobensky (1667) . Right John the Russian, Spanish (1730).
Mchch. Theodora the virgin and Didymus the warrior (304). St. Ferapont Beloezersky, Mozhaisky (1426). Transfer of the relics of St. Moscow Cyprian, Photius and Jonah (1472). St. Ferapont of Monzen (1597).

St. Nikita isp., ep. of Chalcedon (IX). St. Ignatius, bishop Rostovsky (1288). St. Elena Diveevskaya (1832).
Sschmch. Eutychia, bishop Melitinsky (I). Mts. Eliconidae (244). St. Herman, Bishop of Paris (576). Sschmch. Helladius, bishop (VI-VII). St. Gerontius, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus' (1489). Council of all the venerable and God-bearing fathers who shone forth in Holy Mount Athos.
Prmch. Macarius, Dionysius, sschmch. Nicholas the Deacon, martyr. Ignatius and Peter (1931). St. Irakli, Spanish (1936). Prmts. Hermogenes (1942).
Nicene (304) and Chukhloma (Galich) (1350) icons of the Mother of God.

Prmts. Virgin Theodosius, Constantinople (730).Bl. John, Christ for the Fool's Sake, Ustyug (1494). Finding the relics of St. Job, in the schema of Jesus of Anzer (2000).Mts. Theodosius virgin, Tire (c. 307-308). Memory of the First Ecumenical Council (325). Cathedral of Saints of the Krasnoyarsk Metropolis. Sschmch. John the deacon and martyr. Andrew (1938). St. Luke isp., archbishop. Simferopolsky (1961).
Icons of the Mother of God called “Supportress of Sinners” and the Never-Slumbering Eye

Memory of St. Isaac Isp., abbot of the Dalmatian monastery, sschmch. Vasily the presbyter.

Memory app. from 70 Yerma Mch. Ermia. Mch. Philosopher. Sschmch. The philosopher presbyter and his sons martyr. Boris and Nikolai.

June 14:
Memory of the martyr. Justin the Philosopher and another Justin, and with them Chariton, Charita, Evelpist, Hierax, Paeon and Valerian. St. Dionysius, abbot of Glushitsky. Right John of Kronstadt. St. Agapit of Pechersk, a free doctor. St. Justin Popovich, Chelisky.(Serb.) Sschmch. Basil the Presbyter, MC. Faith.

Memory of St. Nikephoros of Spain, Patriarch of Constantinople. Vmch. John the New, Sochavsky. Symcha Pofin, Bishop of Lyons and with him the victims of Mts. Blandina and martyr. Pontica of Lyon. Finding the relics of rights. Juliania, book. Vyazemskaya, Novotorzhskaya. Kiev-Brotherly Icon of the Mother of God.

Memory of the martyr. Lucillian, Claudius, Hypatia, Paul, Dionysius and MC. Virgin Paul, St. Varlaam Khutynsky. Sschmchch. Lucian the bishop, Maxian the presbyter, Julian the deacon, Marcellinus and Saturninus in Belgium. Cyprian. Sschmch. Michael the presbyter.

Also on this day, the Church remembers the transfer of the relics of the blessed. Tsarevich Dimitri from Uglich to Moscow and honors the images of the Yuga Icon of the Mother of God, the Tabynskaya and the “Sign” of the Kursk-Root Icons of the Mother of God.

Cathedral of Novgorod Saints, Cathedral of Belarusian Saints,Cathedral of Pskov Saints, Cathedral of St. Petersburg Saints.

In Vologda, this day is a celebration of all the venerable fathers of Vologda.

Memory of St. Mitrophan, Patriarch of Constantinople. St. Methodius, abbot of Peshnoshsky, martyr. Frontasia, Severina, Severina and Silana, martyr. Concordia. Sschmch. Astia, ep. Dyrrachian. St. Zosima, ep. Babylon of Egypt, sschmch. George the Presbyter (Serb). Joannikia, Met. Montenegrin-Primorsky (Serb.), sschmch. Peter the Presbyter. Finding the relics of Sschmch. Peter, Archbishop of Voronezh.

Memory sschmch. Dorothea, bishop Tirsky, Mchch. Marciana, Nicandra, Hyperechia, Apollo, Leonidas, Aria, Gorgias, Selinia, Irinia and Pambona. St. Anuvius, the hermit of Egypt. St. Theodore the Wonderworker. St. Abba Dorotheus, from the monastery of Abba Serid. Transfer of the relics of the blessed one. Igor, lead. book Chernigov and Kyiv. St. Constantine, Metropolitan Kyiv and all Russia. Blgv. book Theodore Yaroslavich (brother of St. Alexander Nevsky), Novgorod. Finding the relics of St. Vassian and Jonah of Pertominsky, Solovetsky miracle workers. Council of all the venerable and God-bearing fathers who shone forth in Holy Mount Athos. Sschmch. Michael the presbyter. Sschmch. Nicholas the presbyter.
Also on this day the Church honors the image of the Igor Icon of the Mother of God.

Memory of St. Bessarion, wonderworker of Egypt. St. Hilarion the New, from the Dalmatian monastery. Prmcc. maidens Archelaus, Thekla and Sosanna. St. Jonah, ep. Velikopermsky. St. Paisius of Uglich. St. Jonah Klimecki. St. Rafaila Spanish

Also on this day, the Church honors the image of the Pimenovskaya Icon of the Mother of God (brought to Moscow in 1387).

On this day the Church glorifies Cathedral of Ivanovo-Voznesensk Saints and honors the memory of Sschmch. Theodotus of Ancyra. Sschmch. Marcellinus, Pope of Rome, and martyr. Claudia, Kirina and Antonina. Sschmch. Marcellus, Pope, martyr. Sisinius and Cyriaca deacons, Smaragda, Largia, Aproniana, Saturnina, Papias and Maura warriors and Criscentiana, mcc. Princess Priscilla, Lukina and Artemia. Mcc. Kaleria (Valeria), Kyriacia and Maria in Caesarea Palestine. Sschmch. Andronika, Archbishop. Permsky. Sschmch. Alexandra, Alexandra, Valentin, Benjamin, Victor, Alexander, Paul, Vladimir, Ignatius, Michael, Nicholas, Paul, Nicholas the presbyters, Gregory the deacon and martyr. Afanasy and Alexandra. Sschmchch. Nicholas and Peter presbyters.

Memory of the Martyr. Theodore Stratelates. St. Ephraim, Patriarch of Antioch. St. Zosima of Phoenicia. St. Theodora, bishop Suzdalsky. The discovery of the relics of the passion-bearers of the blessed princes Vasily and Konstantin of Yaroslavl.

Also on this day, the Church honors the image of the Yaroslavl and Uryupinsk icons of the Mother of God.

Memory of St. Kirill, Archbishop. Alexandria. Right Alexy Moskovsky.St. Kirill, abbot of Beloezersky. Mcc. Thekla, Martha and Mary of Persia. St. Alexander, abbot of Kusht and recalls the discovery of the relics of St. Rafaila sp (2005).

On this day the Church glorifies Cathedral of Ryazan Saints,Cathedral of Siberian Saints.

Also on this day, the Church remembers the discovery of the relics of St. Vasily, bishop Ryazansky (1609).

Memory St. John, Met. Tobolsky. Sschmch. Timothy, bishop Prussian. Mchch. Alexandra and Antonina virgins. St. Theophan of Antioch. St. Vassian, bishop Lavdisky. St. Silouan, schema-monk of Pechersk. Sschmch. Timothy the presbyter.

Council of the Reverend Fathers Pskov-Pechersk.

Memory apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas. Sschmch. Metropolitan the Presbyter and many martyrs like him (1900). St. Barnabas of Vetluzhsky. Transfer of the relics of St. Ephraim of Novotorzhsky.

Also on this day, the Church honors the image of the icon of the Mother of God, called “It is Worthy to Eat” (“The Merciful One”).

Memory of St. Onuphrius the Great. St. Peter of Athos. Prpp. John, Andrew, Iraklemon and Theophilos of Thebaid. St. Arseny Konevsky. St. Onufriy Malsky, Pskovsky. Prpp. Onuphrius and Auxentius of Vologda. Prpp. Vassian and Jonah of Pertominsky, Solovetsky. St. Stefan Ozersky, Komelsky. The discovery of the relics and the second glorification of the saints. led book Anna Kashinskaya.

Memory Mts. Akilina. St. Alexandra Diveevskaya. St. Trifillia, ep. Leucusia of Cyprus. Mts. Antonina. St. Anna and her son John. Prpp. Andronicus, Savva, Moscow icon painters. Sschmch. Alexy presbyter. Mts. Pelagia.

Memory of the Monk Methodius, abbot of Peshnosky. Glorifies Cathedral of Diveyevo Saints, and also remembers the prophet Elisha and St. Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople.

Memory of Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, Wonderworker. And also remembers the holy prophet Amos.

On this day, the church remembers the transfer of the relics of St. Theophan the Recluse. He also honors the memory of St. Tikhon, Bishop of Amafuta, St. Tikhon of Medyn, St. Tikhon of Lukhov, St. Moses of Optina.

Memory of the holy martyrs of Chalcedon - Manuel, Savel and Ismail.

The memory of the Monk Varlaam of Khutyn, the martyrs of Tripoli - Leontius, Hypatius and Theodulus, and also honors the image of the Bogolyubskaya Icon of the Mother of God.

Memory of the Apostle Jude, brother of the Lord, Saint Job, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', Saint John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco.

Second Sunday after Pentecost. Day of Remembrance of All Saints who shone forth in the Russian land.
The Church remembers the Hieromartyr Methodius, Bishop of Patara, and the Blessed Prince Gleb of Vladimir. It also glorifies the Council of all the venerable fathers in the Holy Mount Athos who shone forth.

On this day, the Church remembers the discovery of the relics of St. Maximus the Greek, and also honors the memory of the holy martyr Julian of Tarsus.

On this day, the church remembers the holy martyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata.

On this day the church honors the image Vladimir icon Mother of God.
It also remembers the Council of Vladimir Saints and honors the memory of the martyr Agrippina the Roman.

The Church celebrates the Nativity of the honest, glorious Prophet and Baptist of the Lord John.

On this day, the church in a special way honors the memory of the holy faithful Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia, the Murom miracle workers.

On this day the Church honors the image Tikhvin icon Mother of God. And also remembers the Monk David of Thessalonica.

On this day the Church remembers the discovery of the relics of the saint St. Ambrose Optinsky.

Memory of the Righteous Joan the Myrrh-Bearer and the Venerable Sampson the Stranger. It also glorifies: the Cathedral of Vologda Saints, the Cathedral of Novgorod Saints, the Cathedral of Belarusian Saints, the Cathedral of Pskov Saints, the Cathedral of St. Petersburg Saints.

Memory St. Sergius and Herman, the Valaam wonderworkers, and also remembers the transfer of the relics of the holy martyrs of Alexandria - Cyrus and John.
Petrov's fast ends.

Fasting helps people cleanse themselves of sins by abstaining from bodily goods. Petrov fast has many important traditions and church rules, which it would be useful to remember now, on the eve of its start.

Peter's Fast is the first fasting period of the summer. Of course, in its spirit it is not similar to Lent, but it performs slightly different tasks. Previously, we wrote about five things that you need to give up during Lent. The first summer abstinence period has slightly different priorities. This is not accidental: the rules of each post are largely related to the history of its appearance, as well as to the events that it sanctifies.

Story

Another name for Peter's Fast is the Apostolic Fast or the Fast of Pentecost. It begins seven days after the holiday of Trinity, that is, the start date of this period is not fixed. The Apostolic Fast is associated with the two most revered and famous saints in the Orthodox Church - Peter and Paul.

Apostolic fasting is observed among Christians of all denominations. It was first approved by Constantine the Great in the 4th century. Memorial Day of Peter and Paul - July 12. It is on this day that it is customary to end Peter's fast. Due to the fact that the beginning of fasting can occur on different days, and the end is always fixed, its length varies from 6 weeks to just one.

Popular name post - “Petrovka hunger strike”. The fact is that by this time all supplies from last year usually run out, so people tighten their belts before the first harvest.

There is one interesting question question that many Christians ask: why is the fast named after Peter and not Paul? This was invented as a convenient shortcut. That is, the meaning of both Peter and Paul for the church is the same, but for the sake of euphony, the fast was called Peter's or Apostolic.

Peter and Paul are completely different people who came to faith in completely different ways. Peter was an ordinary fisherman, a family man who left his home for Christ. Paul was cruel, born in hatred of Christianity. A miracle made him cross over to the other side and die in agony for his Lord.

These apostles are a symbol of people's faith in the Savior. They died almost simultaneously - Peter was crucified upside down on the cross, and Paul's head was cut off.

Church traditions and folk signs of fasting

The Apostolic Fast is not as demanding and strict as the Great Fast. It was erected in honor of the memory of the prayers of Peter and Paul before setting out to preach Christ's faith. They spent a lot of time with those who needed their help, giving themselves for the good of people, bringing them knowledge about Christ and guiding them on the true path.

During Lent, believers should not eat meat. You can eat fish any day except Wednesday and Friday. If you are weakened by illness, the rules may change. The main thing is that abstinence does not cause discomfort and does not worsen your health. Use our nutrition calendar during Peter's Fast to diversify your food and make it easier to endure fasting.
Priests recommend refraining from watching television during Apostolic Lent. Television is often a source of sin and defilement, which has no place during Lent. Therefore, if you watch TV, limit yourself to educational programs and not those filled with negativity or violence.
One of the requirements is prayer. Communicate with God, visit temple and try not to offend anyone during this period of time.
According to tradition, it is customary to take communion during Lent, so find time for this too.
Eat folk tradition- prepare the house for July 12, the feast of Peter and Paul, for the end of Lent. IN last days clean and remove all trash and rubbish from their home.
By the end of Lent, the first autumn sowings usually begin.
In recent days, men have always gone fishing.

We all want happiness for ourselves and for our family. Pray for the health of the living and the repose of the dead. Ask God to help us cope with everyday problems and teach us to believe in his power, give us health and keep us from the devil’s hand.

Remember also that during Peter's Fast, as well as during any other, you cannot get married, get married or celebrate a wedding. These are church principles that have been followed for more than a thousand years. Read about why you can’t get married on Peter’s Fast in a previously published article. We wish you good luck, goodness and strong faith. Be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and

26.06.2016 02:11

On July 13, every year, the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the 12 apostles, disciples of Jesus Christ. ...

from 14/ June 27 until June 28 / July 11 in 2016

This summer fast, which we now call Peter's, or apostolic fast, was previously called the fast of Pentecost.

The Church calls us to this fast, following the example of the holy apostles, who, having received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, prepared through fasting and prayer for the worldwide preaching of the Gospel.

The Day of Pentecost, when on the fiftieth day after His descent from the tomb and on the tenth day after His Ascension, the Lord, seated at the right hand of the Father, sent down the Holy Spirit on all His disciples and apostles, is one of the greatest holidays. This is the making of a new everlasting covenant with people. The Holy Spirit who descended on the apostles, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, instead of Sinai, inscribed the new Zion Law. The place of the Sinai law was taken by the grace of the Holy Spirit, law-giving, giving strength to fulfill the Law of God, pronouncing justification not by works, but by grace.

We do not fast on Pentecost because on these days the Lord was with us. We do not fast because He Himself said: can you force the sons of the bridal chamber to fast when the bridegroom is with them?(Luke 5:34).

“After the long feast of Pentecost, fasting is especially necessary in order to purify our thoughts through it and become worthy of the gifts of the Holy Spirit,” writes Saint Leo the Great. - The real celebration, which the Holy Spirit sanctified with His descent, is usually followed by a nationwide fast, beneficially established for the healing of soul and body, and therefore requiring that we accompany it with due good will. For we have no doubt that after the apostles were filled with the power promised from above and the Spirit of truth dwelt in their hearts, among other secrets of heavenly teaching, at the inspiration of the Comforter, the teaching of spiritual abstinence was also taught, so that hearts, cleansed by fasting, would become more capable of acceptance of grace-filled gifts... one cannot fight the impending efforts of the persecutors and the furious threats of the wicked in a pampered body and fattened flesh, since what delights our outer man destroys the inner one, and on the contrary, the more the rational soul is purified the more the flesh is mortified.”

That is why the teachers, who enlightened all the children of the Church with example and instruction, marked the beginning of the battle for Christ with a holy fast, so that, going out to battle against spiritual corruption, we would have a weapon for this in abstinence, with which we could kill sinful lusts, for our invisible opponents and bodiless enemies will not overcome us if we do not indulge in carnal lusts. Although the tempter has a constant and unchanging desire to harm us, it remains powerless and ineffective when he does not find in us a side from which he can attack... For this reason, an unchangeable and saving custom has been established - after holy and joyful days, which we celebrate in honor of the Lord, who rose from the dead and then ascended into heaven, and after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, go through the field of fasting.

The custom of fasting must be diligently observed in order for those gifts that are now given to the Church from God to remain within us. Having become temples of the Holy Spirit and being more than ever filled with Divine waters, we must not submit to any lusts, must not serve any vices, so that the home of virtue is not defiled by anything ungodly. With the help and assistance of God, we can all achieve this, if only, by cleansing ourselves with fasting and almsgiving, we try to free ourselves from the defilements of sin and bear the abundant fruits of love. Further, Saint Leo of Rome writes: “Of the apostolic rules that God Himself inspired, the church leaders, at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were the first to establish that all deeds of virtue should begin with fasting.

They did this because the commandments of God can be fulfilled well only when the army of Christ is protected from all temptations of sin by holy abstinence. So, beloved, we must practice fasting mainly at the present time, in which we are commanded to fast, after the end of the fifty days that have elapsed from the Resurrection of Christ until the descent of the Holy Spirit and which we spent in a special celebration.

This fast is commanded to protect us from carelessness, which is very easy to fall into due to the long-term food permit that we have enjoyed. If the field of our flesh is not constantly cultivated, thorns and thistles easily grow on it and produce such fruit that they are not gathered into the granary, but are doomed to be burned. Therefore, we are now obliged to carefully preserve those seeds that we have received into our hearts from the heavenly Sower, and to beware lest an envious enemy somehow spoil what was given by God and thorns of vices do not grow in the paradise of virtues. This evil can only be warded off by mercy and fasting.”

Blessed Simeon of Thessaloniki writes that fasting was established in honor of the apostles, because through them we were granted many blessings and they became for us leaders and teachers of fasting, obedience... and abstinence. The Latins also testify to this against their will, honoring the apostles with fasting in their memory. But we, in accordance with the apostolic decrees drawn up by Clement, after the descent of the Holy Spirit, celebrate for one week, and then, the next week, we honor the apostles who handed us over to fast.

How long does Petrov's fast last?

Peter's Fast depends on whether Easter occurs sooner or later, and therefore its duration varies. It always begins with the end of the Triodion, or after the week of Pentecost, and ends on June 28, if the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is not on Wednesday or Friday.

The longest fast is six weeks, and the shortest is a week and one day.

How to eat properly during Peter's Fast

The feat of Peter's Fast is less strict than Pentecost: during Peter's Fast, the Church Charter prescribes weekly, for three days - on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - to abstain from fish, wine and oil, and dry food at the ninth hour after Vespers; on other days you should abstain only from fish.

On Saturdays and Sundays of this fast, as well as on the days of remembrance of some great saint or the days of a temple holiday, fish is also allowed.

Why are the apostles Peter and Paul called supreme

According to the testimony of the word of God, the apostles occupy a special place in the Church - everyone should understand us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God(1 Cor. 4:1).

Endowed with equal power from above and the same power to forgive sins, all the apostles will sit on twelve thrones next to the Son of Man (Matthew 19:28).

Although some of the apostles were distinguished in Scripture and tradition, for example Peter, Paul, John, James and others, not one of them was the main or even superior in honor to the rest.

But since the Acts of the Apostles mainly narrates the works of the apostles Peter and Paul, the Church and the holy fathers, reverent at the name of each of the apostles, call these two supreme.

Calling the two apostles supreme, according to the primacy of order and works. The Church inspires that its head is Jesus Christ alone, and all the apostles are His servants (Col. 1:18).

Among His three disciples, the Lord deigned Peter to be a witness of His Divine glory on Tabor, His Divine power at the resurrection of Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:37) and His humiliation according to humanity in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The Apostle Peter was an outstanding preacher. The power of his word was so great that he converted three or five thousand people to Christ. According to the word of the Apostle Peter, those convicted of a crime fell dead (Acts 5:5.10), the dead were resurrected (Acts 9:40), the sick were healed (Acts 9:3-34) even from the touch of one shadow of a passing apostle ( Acts 5:15).

But he did not have primacy of power. All church matters were decided by the common voice of the apostles and elders with the entire Church.

The story of the conversion of the holy Apostle Paul, who previously bore the Hebrew name Saul, is wonderful.

Saul, brought up in the Jewish law, hated and tormented the Church of Christ, and even asked the Sanhedrin for the power to find and persecute Christians everywhere. Saul tormented the church, entering houses and dragging out men and women, handing them over to prison(Acts 8:3). One day, “Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest and asked him for letters to Damascus to the synagogues, so that whoever he found following this teaching, both men and women, would be tied up and brought to Jerusalem. As he walked and approached Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting Me? He said: Who are you, Lord? The Lord said: I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It's hard for you to go against the grain. He said in awe and horror: Lord! what do you want me to do? and the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the city; and it will be told to you what you need to do. The people walking with him stood in a daze, hearing the voice but not seeing anyone. Saul got up from the ground, and with his eyes open he saw no one. And they led him by the hands and brought him to Damascus. And for three days he did not see, nor did he eat, nor did he drink” (Acts 9:1-9).

He made constant journeys to different countries to preach the Gospel to the Jews and especially to the pagans. These travels were accompanied by extraordinary power of preaching, miracles, tireless work, inexhaustible patience and high holiness of life. The labors of Paul's apostolic ministry were unparalleled. He said about himself: he labored more than all of them (1 Cor. 15:10). For his labors, the apostle endured innumerable sorrows. In the year 67, on June 29, at the same time as the Apostle Peter, he suffered martyrdom in Rome. As a Roman citizen he was beheaded by the sword.

The Orthodox Church honors the apostles Peter and Paul as those who enlightened the darkness of the West, glorifies Peter’s firmness and Paul’s mind, and contemplates in them the image of the conversion of those who sin and those who are corrected in the Apostle Peter - the image of one who rejected the Lord and repented; in the Apostle Paul - the image of one who resisted the preaching of the Lord and then believed.

Righteous John of Kronstadt about fasting

God! Just as it is characteristic of the Proto-Image to attract, to assimilate images, to inhabit and live in them, so it should be characteristic of those who are in Your image to strive with all love, with all zeal for the Proto-Image, to cleave to It. But behold, our greedy and voluptuous, plump, inert flesh tears us away from You; we need fasting, abstinence, and we are passionate about sweets. Strengthen us to abstinence!