The Apostles' Fast, also called the Fast of the Holy Apostles, the Fast of Peter and Paul, or sometimes St. Peter's Fast,^[1] is a fast observed by Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians. The fast begins on the second Monday after Pentecost (the day after All Saints' Sunday) and continues until the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, according to the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar.

History[link]

Having rejoiced for fifty days following Pascha (Easter), the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Apostles began to prepare for their departure from Jerusalem to spread Christ's message. According to Sacred Tradition, as part of their preparation, they began a fast with prayer to ask God to strengthen their resolve and to be with them in their missionary undertakings.

The scriptural foundation for the Fast is found in the Synoptic Gospels, when the Pharisees criticized the apostles for not fasting, Jesus said to them, "Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the Bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the Bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."^[2] In the immediate sense, Christ was referring to his being taken to be crucified; but in the wider sense it is understood in terms of his Ascension into heaven, and his commission to preach the Gospel, which can only be accomplished with prayer and fasting.

The tradition of the Fast has existed at least since Pope Leo I (461 AD), as is evidenced by his homilies,^[3] though it has subsequently been forgotten in the West. The Fast is thought to have been instituted out of thanksgiving to God for the witness of the apostles of Christ. With this Fast, believers express their thanks for the apostles' endurance of persecution during their mission.

Practice[link]

The Apostles' Fast is not as severe as Great Lent or the Dormition Fast, but entails fasting from red meat, poultry, meat products, eggs, dairy products, fish, oil, and wine. Fish, wine and oil are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, and oil and wine are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These fasting rules are much the same as those observed during the Nativity Fast.

As with the three other Fasts of the Church year, there is a Great Feast that falls during the Apostles' Fast; in this case, the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24).

In some places, the services on weekdays during the Apostles' Fast are similar to the services during Great Lent (with some variations). Many churches and monasteries in the Russian tradition will perform the lenten services on at least the first day of the Apostles' Fast.

Duration of the Fast[link]

13th century icon of Ss. Peter and Paul (Belozersk).

The length of the Fast is variable, being determined by the date of Pascha (Easter). Eight weeks after Pascha comes the Sunday of All Saints. The next day, Monday, the Fast of the Holy Apostles begins. The Fast lasts until June 29, the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. In other words, depending on the date of Pascha, the Apostles' Fast can begin as early as May 18 or as late as June 21. Thus, it may be as short as eight days or as long as forty-two days in duration.

See also[link]

• Great Lent
• Nativity Fast
• Dormition Fast
• Coptic Lenten Seasons

Notes[link]

1. ^ Bulgakov, Sergei, Handbook for Church Servers, Movable Feasts and Other Church Seasons, (Kharkov, Ukraine, 1900),
2. ^ Matthew 9:15 (cf. Mark 2:19-20, Luke 5:34-35).
3. ^ Pope Leo I of Rome, Sermon 78: On the Whitsuntide Fast

Bishoy Kamel also spelled Bishoi Kamel (1931–1979), was a priest of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He is considered to be a saint of that faith.

Life[link]

• FrBishoyKamel.jpg

  Fr Bishoy Kamel
  (6 December 1931 -
  21 March 1979)

He was born Samy Kamel in Sers el-Lyan, Monufia Governorate, Egypt, in 1931. later moving to Damenhour where he received his early education. He went on to attend Alexandria University, and received his Bachelor of Science degree there in 1951. He started as a teacher in a local school, at the same time continuing his own studies. In 1954, he received an advanced degree in literature, and was appointed as an instructor at the Alexandria University college of education. Five years later, in 1959, he was ordained a priest of the Coptic Orthodox Church. While a priest, he also taught Sunday school and offered free tutoring for children who needed it. He is also noted for going around to the needy of his congregation after evening services on Christmas, Epiphany, and Easter, because he thought it important to share with his congregation the meaning of the church's "feasts".

He founded the St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Sporting, Alexandria, Egypt. As the church grew, he became convinced one priest would not be enough, and sought to have associate priests at the church. Although he was initially advised against doing so, he persisted, and in time the church had five priests working there, all of whom remained overworked as well. Other churches he founded in Alexandria include St. George in Hadara, the Church of Archangel Michael in the Mustafa Kamel area, St. Takla Hemanout in the Ibrahimeya neighborhood, the church of St. Mary and St. Cyril in the Cleopatra neighborhood, and the church of St. Peter in the Sidi Bishr neighborhood.

In 1969, he was sent to minister to the needs of the Coptic faithful in Los Angeles. Initially, the church placed him in a building used by the Syrian Orthodox Church. Later, he was given the chance to buy a building which the a Russian Orthodox Church congregation had earlier used on Robertson Boulevard which would cost $100,000. His church at the time had about $500 available. Father Bishoy Kamel managed to raise $23,000, some of which came from newer immigrants to the area.

Father Bishoy Kamel took a cab to a local bank, where he was prepared to pay the $23,000. and sign a mortgage for the church. Unfortunately, he left the unmarked envelope containing the money in the seat of the taxi he took to the bank. He didn't notice until entering the bank and being asked by the loan officer what had happened to the money. He left the bank and returned to his home near the church they were using without the mortgage or the money, convinced that at least some people would believe that he had himself stolen the money. Later that night, after midnight, he heard a knock on his door, and asked his wife to answer it. The driver of the taxi was there. He confessed to having found the money in the cab, and drove around for some time trying to decide whether to keep it or not. After deciding not to, determining that his fare had been some sort of minister, he had to find a way to locate him. He asked around, and finally managed to determine who his fare must have been, and arrived with the money.^{[citation needed]}

Final years and legacy[link]

Father Bishoy Kamel would later go on to help establish the Coptic church in Denver and Houston, and areas of Europe and Australia. Although very interested in the spiritual welfare of others, Kamel was also very concerned with what he felt was his own salvation. He displayed an unusual degree of humility. Although married for several years to his wife, Angel, both of them remained celibate. As a preacher, he regularly cited examples from the Bible, Church history, tradition, and the life of the Saints. His voice is described as having been low, almost weak, but was very appreciated by his congregation. He wrote religious books, including Under the Feet of the Cross and With Christ Crucified. He died in 1979, and is buried in Alexandria.

References[link]

• "Friar Bishoy Kamel" Saint Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
• "Father Maximous El-Antony: Who cares about the icon?" Al-Ahram Weekly 2008-03-05.
• The Arch-priest 'Abouna' Fr. Bishoy Kamel (1931-1979)
• Father Bishoy Kamel The Servant of Children