Petrov fast is the most unpredictable fast among Orthodox Christians. It can last 8 days, or maybe 42 days. Why Petrov Lent is so fickle when it starts in 2018, how to observe it correctly - you will learn about this in our "Question and Answer" section.
Why is Peter's fast called apostolic?
Peter's fast is called apostolic, since it was established in memory of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, who fasted, preparing themselves for the preaching of the Gospel. It was difficult to pronounce the post "Peter and Paul", in connection with this, the post began to be called by the name of the apostle, which is pronounced first.
When did this post appear?
Christians have known about this fast since the first centuries of the existence of the church.
The first mention of it is found in the Apostolic decrees. In the 3rd century, this post was not associated with the apostles in any way and was considered "compensatory". In other words, those who, for health reasons, could not keep great post should have passed this test now. Then fasting lasted from the Sunday of All Saints to the Dormition.
Around the year 1000, the post was broken into two parts. Its first period began to end on the Day of Peter and Paul, July 12, according to the new style. The second part of the compensatory post became the Assumption Post, which should have been kept from August 14th.
When will Petrov Post start in 2018?
Petrov fast directly refers to the date of the celebration of Easter. It always begins on Monday, a week after Holy Trinity Day. And it ends from year to year on July 12, on the Day of Peter and Paul. In this regard, the apostolic fast can last 6 weeks, or maybe only 8 days.
In 2018, Petrov Post will begin on June 4 and end on July 11. It turns out that this year it will last 38 days.
What can and what can not be eaten in Petrov fast?
Peter's fast is not as strict as the Great Fast. During Peter's fast, it is forbidden to eat meat and dairy products, and on Wednesday and Friday fish must be abandoned.
On Saturday, Sunday, wine is allowed in moderation. Although the church still recommends abandoning it.
On the church holiday of the Nativity of John the Baptist, which is celebrated on July 7, you can eat fish, regardless of what day of the week it falls on. The Day of the Apostles Peter and Paul, which is celebrated on July 12, is not included in the fast. But if this day falls on Wednesday or Friday, it is also lenten, but not strict - food is allowed with vegetable oil and fish.
Petrovsky post menu:
Monday- hot food without oil is allowed. Stewed vegetables, mushrooms, cereals, soups. You can cook cold lean cabbage soup, okroshka, pickle or cook porridge with the addition of dried fruits.
Tuesday- fish and seafood dishes, cereals, mushrooms cooked with butter are allowed.
Wednesday
Thursday- it is allowed to eat fish, seafood, soups, mushrooms. You can cook porridge with the addition of vegetable oil. It is not forbidden to combine cereals with fresh vegetables, herbs.
Friday- dry eating. Fasting people can eat bread, cereals, fresh vegetables, dried fruits, honey and nuts. Water in unlimited quantities.
Saturday- the church allows you to eat fish, mushrooms, dishes with vegetable oil.
Sunday- It is allowed to eat lean food with butter and fish.
There are many fasts in the Orthodox Church, but there are only four multi-day fasts, and one of them is named after the closest disciples of Jesus Peter and Paul.
However, only the name of the first apostle is mentioned in the title for the simple reason that it is too inconvenient and too long to pronounce full version- Peter and Paul post or the post of Peter and Paul. Partially this question is solved by one of the names of the post - Apostolic. It is also known as Petrovsky post.
Refusal of fast food, that is meat dishes and products of animal origin, combined with humility and prayers, helps Christians achieve the main goal - to cleanse themselves spiritually and physically, prepare for the church holiday, find peace of mind and peace.
Believers with health problems, small children (up to 7 years of age), pregnant and lactating women are exempted from this fast, as well as from the rest. breast milk, travelers, laymen.
history of the holiday
According to tradition, Peter and Paul, being disciples of Christ, carried the Word of God to the pagans. However, the sermons were preceded by thorough preparation for carnal and spiritual cleansing - the apostles limited themselves to certain foods and prayed earnestly. Their example served as the basis for the Peter's fast, which ends with a feast in honor of these saints.
So far, the rules of fasting have undergone some changes. Initially, it was merged with the Assumption and was intended to serve as a kind of compensation for those who did not observe Great Lent. That is, those who did not fast before Easter could "catch up" after this great church holiday.
These rules were in effect in the period of the 3rd-11th centuries, and later it was finally divided into two parts, which led to a shift in dates. Over time, the role of Peter and Paul in Christianity continued to grow, so by the 15th century, the Apostolic Fast added to the list major events in Orthodox calendar, today there are only four such periods.
What are the traditions of Peter's Lent
Unlike the Great Lent, this post is less strict and even provides for some indulgences that are not considered a gross violation.
The main thing that is required to be observed according to church prescriptions is to pray, give alms to those who ask, do good deeds, curb passions, get rid of harmful thoughts and actions. Only under such conditions is it possible to achieve the desired purification of the body and soul.
What indulgences are allowed in Petrov post? Basically they are related to the menu. For example, fish and even some wine are allowed on weekends. The exclusion of these products and dry eating is recommended every Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
On the rest of the weekdays, fasting people can eat hot dishes with the addition of vegetable oil, but without fish and / or meat. Also, "forbidden" products are allowed on temple holidays, days of memory of saints.
It is advisable for the entire period of fasting to refuse to watch television and radio programs that do not carry an instructive, enlightening, instructive character. Conversations, including on the phone “about nothing”, are also not recommended, everything is only on business. Alcohol abuse, gluttony, attendance and / or participation in recreational activities, of course, are prohibited.
At this time, you should protect yourself as much as possible from worldly and other fuss, everything obscene and empty, enmity and strife. You can even make a list indicating all the restrictions that the fasting person is willing to impose on himself in order to achieve the desired result.
When is Petrov fast celebrated in Russia in 2018
Despite the fact that this post is directly related to the feast in honor of the two apostles (July 12), it is a transitional one. It is already known when it will begin in 2018 - it will be the beginning of All Saints Week - June 4 (Monday).
The last day, respectively, will be the eve of the specified holiday - July 11. The duration of the fast can also vary from year to year, as it is associated with the Easter day: the shortest period is a little more than a week, the longest is 6 weeks.
How to congratulate each other on this day
Any fast, especially if it is among the four most important, is a holiday for a believer. This attitude is not affected by any restrictions on food, nor the rejection of any pleasures. After all, thanks to him, the desired changes occur in the life of the fasting person.
Therefore, you can safely congratulate on fasting as on a holiday. The text recommends mentioning the merits and example of the apostles, wishing successful abstinence, patience and humility.
Today you can find ready-made congratulations for such congratulations, including in poetic form. This option is suitable for those who have difficulty expressing feelings and thoughts in their own words. But it is not necessary to focus too much on this; a few sincere words from the heart are enough for every Christian.
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.
The beginning of Petrovsky Lent 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 4th.
And the date of the Trinity depends on the day of the celebration of Easter, so the beginning of Peter's fast 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 belongs to the very first times of the Orthodox Church. It used to be called the fast of Pentecost. Petrovsky or Apostolic fasting 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 in the year, calls for self-improvement, for 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.
© photo: Sputnik / Sergey Pyatakov
The clergy believe that spiritual life without fasting is impossible - this is an ascetic truth, which is paid for with blood. But Peter's fast is not only a memory of past persecutions from external enemies.
According to the gospel main enemy not the one who kills the body, but the one who takes root inside the soul. History remembers cases when baptized people forgot about love for God and neighbor and returned to their former sins, and fasting reminds of such a danger, church ministers say.
For a Christian, hunger, the refusal of food, is not in itself a blessing, since the need for food is natural for a person. 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 calls to think about humility and martyrdom, as well as to appreciate the spiritual feat of each of the apostles. Martyrdom in Orthodoxy is one of the key phenomena. It is to go to the torments and humbly accept them - the highest spiritual feat.
© photo: Sputnik / Yuri Kaver
Peter's fast is also given in order to make up for lost time in Great Lent. This is a way out for those who, due to illness, travel, or for other reasons, could not observe Great Lent before Easter.
What you can and can not eat in Petrov post
Peter's post, unlike the Great, is not so strict. It begins on Monday, on the 57th day after Easter (one 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 can also not eat meat, dairy products, eggs, but fish is allowed on some days of the week. basis Lenten table consists of vegetables, herbs and dishes prepared from them, as well as cereals, fruits, berries and dried fruits.
During this fast, hot food without oil is prescribed on Monday, fish is allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, dry eating (bread, water, salt, raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, honey) on Wednesday and Friday. And on weekends, some wine is allowed.
Memorial Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, which is celebrated on July 12, is not included in the fast. However, if it falls on a Wednesday or Friday, then it is lenten, 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 only in the exhaustion of the flesh, but also in giving that part of the bread that you yourself would like to eat to the hungry (hungry, thirsty) ... Fasting consists not only in eating rarely, but in eating little; and not in eating once, but in not eating much.
How to fast
Petrov fast is considered the easiest fast for the entire calendar year. But even when embarking on such, 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 supposed to strict post, as monks, for whom the Charter provides for stricter rules. During fasting, foods should also be excluded from the menu. fast food, i.e. fast food, confectionery and pastries.
At the same time, it should be remembered that fasting is a spiritual purification, and only in second place is abstinence from food. It should contribute not to weight loss, but to the strengthening of the spiritual principle in a person. Therefore, it is very important to pray, confess and receive communion during fasting.
But, if for some reason it is impossible for a layman to observe all the rules of fasting, he can limit himself in other, non-gastronomic things. For example, do not watch TV or use social networks in the Internet.
Traditions and customs
By church canons, the sacrament of marriage - the wedding is not performed during the period church holidays, fasts and individual temple holidays. Accordingly, a wedding during Petrovsky Lent and on St. Peter's Day is not allowed.
In order to live a long and happy family life, it is recommended to wait out the Petrov post. It is also necessary to postpone the conception of children until the end of the fast. According to folk customs, the wedding in Petrov Post was not held for other reasons.
Petrov post is held in the summer, during the peak season field work, therefore, a centuries-old tradition has developed not to hold weddings at this time. This tradition is followed by modern rural youth.
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 on Petrov Post
During fasting, you should not cut your hair - your hair will be sparse. They do not sew and do needlework during fasting - the hands will be weak. Whoever lends money on Petrov Post will not get out of debt for three years.
A marriage concluded in fasting is short-lived, there will be no agreement in the family, and it will soon fall apart. If on Petrov Lent, at the end of the moon, you touch a dry branch with a wart, saying at the same time: as in Lent, the meat is empty on a platter, so that the wart was not thick, then the wart will dry up and fall off. If the commemoration coincided with the fast, then according to the rules, the commemoration should also be fasting. But there is nothing wrong with the fact that on the table on such a day there was fast food. If during fasting, at a feast, someone persuades a fasting person to eat meat, ridiculing him or fasting, then he will die hard and for a long time.
Peter's fast is not the time for divination, rituals, and performing magical rituals. So you can invite trouble on yourself and your loved ones, left without support. higher powers. It is better to devote time to prayers and sincerely ask for what you want from Heaven.
If on the first day Lent is coming rain, then the harvest will be excellent. Three rains in one day - the year promises to be rich in joyful events.
Material prepared on the basis of open sources
The Orthodox religion implies following a certain set of rules, which includes fasting. This is the time when not only the body is cleansed, but also thoughts. It is the exclusion from the diet of a large intake of food in a certain period that leads to spiritual enlightenment.
Orthodox people fast several times in one year. This article will discuss which post ended on July 12, 2017, when it begins and how it should be done. What should believers know about this event? How to spend the time of the Orthodox fast?
Pentecost
In ancient times, when Russia had just adopted Orthodoxy, Peter's fast was called Pentecost. The thing is that the Roman emperor and conqueror Constantine erected and consecrated temples on the territory of the Roman Empire dedicated to the memory of the apostles of Jesus - Peter and Paul. The celebration took place on July 12. Now this date is of key importance.
The date of Peter's Lent followed the feast of the Holy Trinity. It was previously called Pentecost, because the Trinity fell on the fiftieth day after the Nativity of Christ.
Name history
Peter's fast is also called Apostolic, because it is dedicated to two apostles of the Lord - Peter and Paul. They, like true Christians, spent a lot of time in prayer, ignoring all lawsuits.
In the common people, the Apostolic Lent is called "Petrovka", and also "Petrovka-Hunger Strike". And this name is due to the fact that the post falls on early summer: stocks from last year's harvest are almost exhausted, and the new one is still far away.
Origin Hypotheses
It is not known exactly how Petrov Post arose. Orthodox people put forward a couple of versions about its origin:
- The first version says: Peter's fast is an imitation of all the apostles of the Lord. They are most They spent their lives in prayer and fasting. And after the feast of the Holy Trinity, they also fasted for some time before preaching the gospel.
- The second version claims that the Petrov fast was created for those who, due to certain circumstances, could not observe the Christmas and Lent. Starting from June 12 and until July 12, when the fast ends, the Orthodox fulfill all the instructions and pay honors to Christ. This period can be observed with some concessions in the event that there are health problems.
When does fasting start and when does it end?
The beginning of the celebration of Petrovka falls on the second Monday after Pentecost. As for what date the fast ends, this date usually falls on July 12th. In 2017, this day fell on July 11. The beginning was on June 12th.
In 2018, the start date of the fast will fall on June 4th. Its duration can vary and range from 8 to 42 days. In 2017, the duration of the fast was 30 days, the end coincided with the feast of the veneration of the apostles Peter and Paul. Peter symbolizes confidence and strong will, and Paul - high intelligence and ingenuity.
Compliance with the rules during Petrovka
Modern church prescriptions state the following rules that believers must adhere to during Peter's fast:
- Do not work and refuse entertainment during the liturgy and Orthodox worship in churches.
- Work diligently on weekdays and rest on weekends.
- Clear your mind of obscene, frivolous desires and thoughts.
- Do not have fun, do not go to entertainment venues.
- Refrain from intimate relationships.
- Do not allow emotions such as anger, anger, aggression, jealousy to take over the mind and control feelings.
- A large amount of time to indulge in prayers, both in church and at home.
- Don't shorten your hair.
- Refrain from handicrafts.
- Do not lend or borrow.
- On one of the days of fasting, you need to go to confession and take communion.
- While the time of spiritual and bodily purification lasts, it is strictly forbidden to perform different kind magical rituals, divination.
- It is necessary for a while to limit yourself in gambling and drinking alcoholic beverages(with the exception of red wine).
- As often as possible, it is worth visiting the church, honoring the saints.
- At this time, it is recommended to engage in charity, to help those in need and those who ask.
Food allowed in fasting
Fasting is a time to restrict yourself in food. The diet is reduced, helping to cleanse the body and thoughts. When the Petrovsky post ends, then all restrictions are removed.
So, what can you eat during this period?
- Monday. On this day, it is customary to eat hot cereals cooked without oil, that is, on water alone. To dilute the insipid taste, it is permissible to add dried fruits, mushrooms, nuts, vegetables and fruits to them.
- Tuesday Thursday Saturday. These days you can eat fish and fish meals. The use of vegetable oil is allowed. But, meat, eggs and dairy products are prohibited.
- Friday. This day is very modest. If not all, then a lot is prohibited: meat, fish, animal products, oil. Most believers are "cleansed" on this day only with bread and water.
- Sunday. If on Friday it is forbidden to eat most products, then on Sunday you can compensate for these restrictions. Eggs and dairy products are not allowed. You can add dry red wine to the lenten menu in small quantities. Do not drink other alcoholic beverages. It is worth noting that red wine is intended to be consumed as a drink for communion.
To some it may seem that fasting limits the human need for food too much. However, the benefits of such a diet are great both for the whole organism and for spiritual enlightenment. The church allows people with serious illnesses and children not to fast because it can harm their health.
When fasting ends in July, you can safely return to the usual menu.
Connection between Easter and Peter's Lent
Why is the feast of Christ's Resurrection remembered when mentioning the Apostolic Lent?
The thing is that the date of Petrov Lent is calculated taking into account the date Happy Easter. So, for example, in 2017, Easter was celebrated on April 16, and nine Sundays later, Petrovsky Lent began. The very day of veneration of the apostles Peter and Paul does not belong to fasting, that is, it is not part of it. The holiday comes when fasting ends in July.
What does the church say about fasting weddings?
Since the Apostolic Lent falls on the summer - the season a large number weddings, then many couples are interested in the question of whether it is possible to celebrate weddings during this period. Or will we have to wait for the time when the Petrovsky post ends?
Orthodox people, in order not to anger God, know that weddings cannot be celebrated during fasts. A wedding involves a plentiful treat for the guests, as well as moments of intimacy between the newlyweds. Ignoring the prohibition can lead to adverse consequences for the spouses: their family life can be subjected to various tests.
Petrov fast is also the time period when it is worth abandoning the wedding celebration. However, the church does not put forward a categorical ban on weddings, but at the same time establishes a number of certain restrictions and rules.
Rules for holding weddings in the post
If, nevertheless, the Orthodox decided to celebrate the celebration of the marriage, without waiting for the time when Peter's fast ends, they must follow some rules:
- Among the invited guests there may be those who sacredly honor the prescriptions observed during the gastronomic restriction. And of course, they will fast until the end of the fast. So that fasting guests do not feel disadvantaged, you need to take care of the presence of lean food on the table in advance.
- As alcoholic drinks, red wine should be present on the tables, ideally Cahors.
- Since a wedding is still fun, you can’t do without songs and contests. But remember that everything should be restrained, moderate. Songs and contests should not contain sexual overtones. This also applies to the clothes of guests: more restraint and decency in outfits.
- You should not drink excessive amounts of alcohol so as not to be in a state of strong alcohol intoxication.
Many couples want to have a wedding ceremony. But it is forbidden to do this during the Petrov post. It is better to wait for the moment when Peter's post ends.
Conclusion
Peter's fast is one of the few periods of the year when the Orthodox free their body and mind from oppressive thoughts and are completely cleansed. Those who decide to join the number of fasting people should remember that the start date is always different. And it’s worth knowing what date Peter’s post ends - it’s always July 12 (twelfth).
Russian Orthodox Church prescribes four "long", that is, many-day fasts a year: Great Lent, Peter's Fast, Assumption Fast, Christmas Fast - in fact, one for each season. Our article is devoted to the summer fast - to Petrov or the Apostle. Do you want to know when Petrov fast is in 2018, why is it so named, what prescriptions exist for this post? About all this - below.
Petrov fast directly depends on the date of Easter - like many twelfth holidays and fast days. That is why we ask ourselves the same question every year - how many Petrov fasts are in 2018. However, it differs from all other posts with a “floating” start date and a fixed end date. It begins on the first day of the week of All Saints, that is, the date of the beginning of the fast is different each time. But it ends every year on the same day - July 12th.
What date is Petrovsky Post in 2018? Since Easter in 2018 falls on April 8, and the week of All Saints begins after the ninth Sunday after Bright Day, Peter's fast will begin on June 4. Well, the end of it, as already mentioned, always falls on the same day.
It is worth noting that on July 12 it is already possible to break the fast, that is, in fact, the last fast day is Wednesday July 11. It is easy to calculate the duration of the post - in 2018 it will last 38 days.
It is worth noting that each year the duration of Petrovsky Lent is different - its length depends on how early Easter is. By the way, the longest Petrov fast is 42 days (a full six weeks), and the shortest is eight days (a week plus one day).
Apostolic post
Petrov Post 2018 is not in vain called the Apostolic Post - it was created in memory of the two apostles, disciples of Christ, Peter and Paul. The fast was based on the tradition that the apostles, preparing for sermons, preparing to tell the pagans the Word of God, limited themselves in food, striving for spiritual and carnal purity. The day of the end of the fast is also dedicated to these saints - June 12, the Day of Peter and Paul. On this day, the firmness of Peter and the reasonableness of Paul are famous.
Initially, in the period from III to XI centuries. Petrovsky and Assumption posts formed a single whole. So long time food restrictions were intended to serve as compensation for those who, for whatever reason, could not fast during Great Lent. That is, believers actually had a choice - to keep a long fast before Easter or after it.
Around the 11th century, a single long post was finally divided into two parts, slightly shifting in dates. The first was called the Apostolic Lent or Lent in honor of Peter and Paul, the second became the Assumption Lent. The role of the apostles in Christianity grew from century to century, and by the 15th century. post became one of four important periods in the Orthodox calendar.
Fasting Precepts
Fasting is not just a restriction in food. To perceive fasting days as a kind of diet that allows you to improve your health and put your figure in order means violating the very idea of fasting in Christianity.
Fasting is not only the rejection of modest (meat) food. First of all, this is the time of prayers, almsgiving, the creation of good deeds, the time of turning thoughts to God. And only the fulfillment of all the requirements will mean the observance of fasting, only this will give a complete purification of the soul and body.
Petrov Post 2018 is not as strict and severe as the Great Post. Even church prescriptions speak of possible indulgences during the days of Peter's fast - and such a deviation will not be considered a violation. 
First of all, the relaxations concern the fasting menu. So, it is allowed to eat fish on Saturdays and Sundays; on the same days you can drink wine - but as an addition to the meal, and not for the purpose of intoxication. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays after Vespers, the consumption of fish and oil is prohibited, dry eating is recommended. Tuesday and Thursday are the time when hot dishes with vegetable oil are allowed for food, only meat and fish dishes are prohibited. The days of remembrance of saints or temple holidays are specifically stipulated - on these days, the prescriptions of Petrovsky Lent 2018 allow fish dishes, oil, and wine.
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