REV. DANIEL ROHAN Fast celebrates sending of Spirit

A major fixed feast in the Orthodox Church, the martyrdom of the Apostles Peter and Paul, is annually observed June 29. The feast began in the early days of the church and the church later established the Fast of the Apostles that precedes it.
The length of the fast is determined by the dates of Pascha and of Pentecost. The fast begins the Monday after the Sunday of All Saints, which falls a week after the celebration of Pentecost. The duration varies. This year, according to the Orthodox calendar, it will cover a period of six days.
Depending on when Pascha falls, Peter's Fast, as it is called, may not make it on the calendar, resulting in no fast at all.
Metropolitan Stephen Yavorski's work on the Orthodox church explains the establishment of Peter's Fast in gratitude to God for sending the Holy Spirit -- the comforter -- upon the Apostles as they were fasting, thus empowering them, to fulfill the words of Christ that, "when the Bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast," and to give due honor and glory to the Apostles.
The Orthodox church associates the other Apostles in the homage paid to Peter and Paul by dedicating the next day, June 30, to the collective commemoration of the Twelve.
Christ's promise
Upon completion of his earthly ministry, Christ promised his disciplines that he would send them the gift of the Holy Spirit from God the Father.
The Holy Spirit was to be their helper, their teacher and their guide. It was only after receiving the Holy Spirit, which descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, that the disciples had a clear understanding of Jesus' messianic mission and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. It was only then that they were enabled to carry out Christ's Great Commission to make disciples of all the nations to build up his church. It was through the power of the Holy Spirit that they were able to do so.
The witness of the Apostles was the immediate fruit of the descent of the Holy Spirit on them.
Acts 13:2-3 reads, "As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them away."
Acts 14:23 reads, "So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended then to the Lord in whom they had believed." This passage is the first biblical reference to appointing or ordaining leaders in the churches that were established by Paul and Barnabas. The word appointed literally means "elected by stretching forth the hand."
To this day, the laying on of hands by the bishop is the outward sign of being ordained a priest of the Orthodox church.
Establishment of fast
Metropolitan Yavorski further explains the establishment of Peter's Fast. Our Lord fasted frequently, and that way gave us a rule to follow.
When the Jewish leaders asked Christ why his disciples were not fasting, he said that so long as the Bridegroom is with them the children do not fast but when the Bridegroom is taken away, then they will fast (Luke 5:33-35).
Christ, then, made it known that his disciples and his followers would be expected to follow the rule of fasting once He returned to heaven on Ascension Day. And so, in obedience to his expectation, this practice continues to this day in the Orthodox Church.
The fast days in the Orthodox Church are: Forty days during the Advent and Great Lenten seasons, Dormition Fast Aug. 1-14, the Beheading of St. John the Baptist on Aug. 29, the Elevation of the Cross on Sept. 14, Peter's Fast and Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year.
As structured in the Orthodox church, preparation is part and parcel of celebrating a given feast day. The Rev. Alexander Schmemann in his book "Liturgy and Life" wrote, "It is easy to 'go to church,' mere attendance is not enough. True celebration is always a living participation. But no one can reach that participation and meaning, the depth, the joy of the celebration, unless he prepares himself. This is why we can never celebrate a feast without going through the effort of preparation. This is the meaning of the Christian institution of fasting."
XThe Rev. Daniel Rohan is pastor of St. Mark Orthodox Church in Liberty.