Every year, a week after the feast of Pentecost, Petrovsky Lent begins. From what date it originates depends on the day of Easter and the Pentecost following it 50 days later. Its end always coincides with the feast day of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, in whose honor it was established - July 12. Thus, the beginning of Petrovsky Lent changes, but the end does not. For this reason, its duration can be from 8 to 42 days. People often call this post Petrovka.
Apostles Peter and Paul
These greatest servants of God, called the supreme apostles for their merits, in their earthly life were completely opposite people, not only in belonging to different social strata of society, but also in their development and mental disposition. Moreover, if one of them - Peter - was a disciple of Christ in the days of his earthly life, then the other - Paul - never was able to personally contemplate the Savior and became involved in serving him after the ascension.
About the Apostle Peter, the elder brother of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, it is known that he was a simple fisherman, poor and illiterate. He never learned anything but his craft, and all his life's concerns were reduced to his daily bread, which he earned by hard work. Peter immediately believed in Christ with all his soul and followed him all the days of his earthly ministry. He was an ordinary weak person and, due to his cowardice, denied the Teacher three times, but the deepest repentance allowed him to become the stone on which the building of the Church of Christ was erected.
Unlike Peter, the Apostle Paul had a noble origin, was a well-read, educated man, and at the beginning of his life, an implacable persecutor of Christians. When the Lord filled his heart with true faith, he directed all the fervor of his soul and the strength of his mind to the preaching of his teaching. With the same fervor with which he had previously persecuted the disciples of Christ, having believed, he became their mentor and support. Petrovsky fasting was established in memory of these two people, personifying selfless faith and cold mind, multiplied by strength and energy - the qualities that make up a true missionary.
Establishment of Petrovsky Post
The veneration of these great servants of God began in the first centuries of Christianity. At the same time, the Petrovsky post was also established by the church. It became especially widespread after temples were erected in their honor in Rome and Constantinople. It was the day of the consecration of the Church of Constantinople - July 12 - that was chosen to celebrate the memory of these supreme apostles.
In Russia, this holiday and the Petrovsky post preceding itappeared in ancient times. In the common people, he was often called "Petrovi", and sometimes even "Petrovka-hunger strikes." There is no disrespect for religion here, just in those days when Petrovsky Lent begins, last year's harvest stocks were running out, and there was still a very long time before the new one - hence the famine, and the bitterly ironic name.
Name Explanation
Sometimes people who are not churched, but who show interest in Orthodox values, have a question related to the title of this post. They are perplexed by the fact that the Petrovsky post, established on the eve of the holiday dedicated to the two greatest pillars of the church, bears the name of only one of them. Does this not indicate the dominant role of the apostle Peter? Of course not, they are absolutely equal in their deeds and merits, and the name of the post was established solely because of its euphony.
Establishment of God's New Covenant
The answer to it can be found in the writings of the holy fathers of the church. They point out that what happened on the fiftieth day after the exodus from the tomb of our Savior Jesus Christ, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles is the fulfillment of the New Testament of God with people.
This new Zion Law, inscribed in the hearts of people, has replaced the old one - Sinai, the commandments of which were carved on stone tablets. On this day the grace of the Holy Spirit was sent down forstrengthening the children of the holy church in their battle of Christ. It is precisely for the purification of the soul and body before the fulfillment of such an important mission that the Petrovsky post was established. On the days of the feast of Pentecost itself, it would be inappropriate, since this is the period of the Savior's stay with his disciples.
What do they eat on Petrovsky Lent?
And more important information for everyone. The question that is asked by everyone who intends to hold the Petrovsky fast for the first time is: what can you eat these days? It should be noted right away that it is not as strict as Great Lent. Only the eating of meat and milk food is not blessed. Fish dishes are allowed on all days except Wednesday and Friday. Moreover, drinking wine is not forbidden on Saturdays, Sundays and temple holidays.
It is also important to take into account such a detail that if the calendar of Petrovsky Lent in a certain year has developed in such a way that its end - the feast of the holy apostles Peter and Paul - falls on Wednesday or Friday, then this day is also part of the fast, albeit with some concessions. In all other cases, there is no fasting on the holiday.
Work on yourself
But not only food restrictions include Petrovsky fast. What you can eat and what you can’t is easy to figure out. It is important to deeply understand that fasting is, first of all, work on the state of one's own soul, in which the rejection of fast food and ordinary worldly entertainment is only an auxiliary means. This rule is quite consistent with each of the posts established by the Orthodox Church, butPetrovsky has his own peculiarities in this regard.
Obedience to the gospel
The fact is that the fast was established in honor of the feast of the holy apostles - the heralds of the resurrection of Christ, who opened the doors of the Kingdom of God to all who believed in him. It is in serving the word of God that the main task of apostolate is defined. Over time, this obedience was assigned to the hierarchs of the church - bishops and priests. They became the successors of the apostles and continue their great work. However, this does not mean at all that the laity have the right to move away from him.
To carry the word of God to people is a work worthy of a reward at any time of the year, especially during the period of fasting, which is the eve of the feast of the chief apostles. Every Orthodox Christian these days could try his hand at this noble field. There is a very wide scope of activity here.
Apostleship internal and external
This apostolic ministry everyone should direct first of all to himself. There is even such a term - "inner apostolate". By it is meant work, the purpose of which is to convey the good news to one's own consciousness. Success in this undertaking will enable a person to internally accept everything that the holy church teaches him. He will gain the ability to sincerely perceive God's church as a mother, and prayer will become for him true fellowship with God.
He who succeeds in the inner apostolate will be able to work in the field of the outer apostolate, that isto the preaching of Christian truths among their neighbors. This, undoubtedly, is the duty of every Orthodox person, because we are responsible before God for everyone who surrounds us, and for everything that happens around us. It is very important here not to succumb to the temptation that comes from the enemy of the human race and sometimes tries to convince us that our weak forces will never be enough to complete such a task. The main thing is to believe in God, and he, if it is his will, will send strength.
As for those food and other restrictions mentioned above, they help us to renounce the vanity of the earth during Lent and devote ourselves entirely to the holy cause. Everyone these days should become an apostle to one degree or another and precede their ministry with fasting and prayer. Yes, we are weak, weak, and often simply ignorant, but such were the apostles. Their strength was in faith, and everything else they acquired by the invasion of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God, poured out on all who are ready to receive it.
