What is the Feast of the Apostles?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
The Feast of the Apostles, also titled the Martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul, is celebrated on the 5th of Abib (July 12th). It commemorates the mission, labor, and ultimate martyrdom of the Holy Apostles, specifically the two "Pillars of the Church," St. Peter and St. Paul.
In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, this feast is the conclusion of the Fast of the Apostles, which is the oldest fast in the Christian Church, beginning on the day after the Feast of Pentecost.
1. Theological and Historical Significance
As Coptic Orthodox Christians, we honor the Apostles not merely as historical figures but as the foundations of our Apostolic succession. The departure of these saints is a cause for celebration because, as noted in Church tradition, "the death of the righteous is dear in the eyes of the Lord" (Ps. 116:10), and their martyrdom marks their union with the Heavenly Bridegroom.
According to the Synaxarium, on this day:
- St. Peter was crucified upside down in Rome under Emperor Nero.
- St. Paul, the "Apostle to the Gentiles," was beheaded in Rome on the same day.
2. The Liturgical Rite: The Blessing of the Water (Lakkan)
A unique feature of the Feast of the Apostles is the Lakkan rite, or the "Liturgy of the Basin." This prayer is performed before the Divine Liturgy.
- The priest blesses the water in a large basin.
- The prayers focus on the theme of service, humility, and the washing of the feet, following the example of our Lord, who washed the feet of His disciples.
- At the conclusion, the priest washes the feet of the congregation with the sanctified water, symbolizing the spiritual cleansing and the apostolic commission to serve others.
3. Hymnology and Responses
The tone used during the Feast of the Apostles is Annual Joyful.
The Hymn of the Hiten:
Specific verses are added for the Apostles:
- "Through the prayers of my lords and fathers the apostles, and the rest of the disciples, O Lord grant us the forgiveness of our sins."
:::. (Hiten ni-evki: ente nachois en-yoti en-apostolos: nem ep-sepi ente ni-mathitis: Pochois ari-hmot nan.*)
The Praxis Response:
The response for the Book of Acts (Praxis) reflects the preaching of the Apostles:
- "Their sound has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." (Psalm 19:4).
:. (Aver kirissin empi-evangelion: khen pi-kosmos tirf.*)
4. Preservation of the Rite
To understand the precise chanting and melismatic delivery of the hymns for the Feast of the Apostles and the Lakkan, one should refer to the leading authorities in Coptic hymnology:
- Moalem Ibrahim Ayad
- Moalem Gad Lewis
- Moalem Zaher Andrawes
- Moalem George Mikhail
- Moalem Mina Makar
- Moalem Milad Nady