Monday 09/Jun/2025 – 08:19 AM
The Coptic Orthodox Church began today the fasting of the Apostles, one of the oldest fasting in Christianity, which comes after the Day of the Holy Spirit, and is a spiritual opportunity to renew the life of faith and follow the example of the pure messenger.
This fasting is characterized by its changing character in the period from year to year, as it is determined based on the timing of the glorious Easter, which differs every year according to the Coptic account.
History and spirituality
The fasting of the Apostles is the first fasting of the Church after its foundation on the day of the fifty, and it is an expression of thanks to the Apostles for the coming of the Holy Spirit on them, and in preparation for service and preaching. The Bible referred to it in the Book of Business: “They used to serve the Lord and fast” (Acts 2: 2).
Rituals and traditions
The fasting of the Apostles is fasting with the same laws of the large fast in terms of refraining from animal foods, while allowing the eating of fish, except for the days of Wednesday and the Friday in which the fish is prohibited, and during the fasting period, daily prayers and morning prayers are held, and many churches begin this fasting with a special mass this morning, and urges the Copts to meditate on the biography of the Apostles who published the message of the Bible despite the difficulties, and provided their lives for Christ.
