What is the Apostles' Fast in the Coptic Church?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-08

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Apostles' Fast begins on the day following Pentecost (which occurs 50 days after the Resurrection Feast and 10 days after Ascension) and continues until the feast commemorating the martyrdom of the Apostles Peter and Paul on July 12, as outlined in A-Practical-Guide-For-Becoming-Orthodox and G4 - Growing with Discipline. As noted in Introduction-to-the-coptic-church-Iris-H.-Elmasry, the duration of this fast is variable depending on the date of Easter.

Purpose and Spiritual Meaning

According to Introduction-to-the-coptic-church-Iris-H.-Elmasry, this fast follows immediately after Pentecost because the Apostles fasted as soon as they were filled with the Holy Spirit in preparation for their ministry, and in remembrance of our Lord's answer to the Pharisees: "Can the children of the bride chamber fast .. the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them and then shall they fast in those days". (Mark II : 18-20).

G4 - Growing with Discipline explains that before Saul and Barnabas could truly begin their work in the Church, they needed to fast and pray to hear the Holy Spirit clearly. Fasting allowed the Apostles to be focused on the fruits of the heavenly banquet rather than the needs of the earthly body. Consequently, the aim of this fasting period is to share more about our faith—just as the Apostles did after receiving the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire—and it serves as a season dedicated to serving others and following the Apostles' example.

Practice and Rites

G4 - Growing with Discipline records that the Apostles' Fast is a second-degree fast with abstinent fasting until 3 pm and seafood permitted.

Liturgically, the Deacon Service Book (SUS) outlines specific rites observed during this season:

• Vespers Praise and Midnight Praise: Prayed as on standard days, but with the addition of the psalies for the Apostles' fast.
• Offering of Evening and Morning Incense: Prayed as on standard days, with the psalm chanted in the standard tune followed by its trailer (from Psalm 18:3,4): "Where their voice is not heard, their voice went out on the face of the entire earth; and their words reached the end of the world."
• Liturgy: The fraction for the Apostles' Fast is prayed.

Sources: G4 - Growing with Discipline; A-Practical-Guide-For-Becoming-Orthodox; Introduction-to-the-coptic-church-Iris-H.-Elmasry; Deacon Service Book (SUS)