I offer sincere felicitations to the Egyptian leadership and people, and to the Arab nation, on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, praying for God to grant Egypt good and peace and protect it from all evil.
Feasts coincide together; yesterday, on Tuesday, July 12th, Egypt’sCopts celebratedthe Feast of the Apostles, which falls on the commemoration of the martyrdom of apostles Peter and Paul by Emperor Nero. The Feast of the Apostles is preceded by a fast called “The Apostles’ Fast” which is the oldest fast known to the Christian Church since its foundation. Lord Christ referred to it when He was asked by John’s disciples: “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” He answered them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Hence, the apostles began fasting, as the Bible states: “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” The fast was passed on from the father apostles to the succeeding generations until this day.
The “Apostles’ Fast” begins after the holy fifties– which begin with the Feast of Resurrection and ends with the Feast of Pentecost (the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit) – and ends with the commemoration of the martyrdom of the two apostles Peter and Paul. The duration of the Apostles’ Fast is unspecified, as the date of its beginning varies from a year to another according to the date of celebrating the Feast of Resurrection.
The Two Apostles; Peter and Paul
Apostle Peter was from Bethsaida city, he was a fisherman until Lord Christ called him, with his brother Andrew, to follow Him and become His disciples, so they left everything and followed Him. It was said about Apostle Peter that he was one of the three disciples (Peter, James and John) who were so close to Lord Christ, who witnessed a number of miracles and events made by Christ, such as the raising of Jairus’ daughter and the Transfiguration.
After the Resurrection and Ascension of Lord Christ and the descendent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and apostles, Peter went about the world preaching Lord Christ, and so many believed at his words. It is mentioned that through one of his sermons, three thousands joined the church. God also performed many signs and wonders through his hands that it was said, “so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”
Apostle Peter wrote two epistles to all believers. When he arrived at Rome, hemet Apostle Paul, they preached together and a large number of the Romans believed; instigating the wrath of the Roman Emperor Nero, so he arrested Apostle Peter and ordered his crucifixion, but he asked to be crucified upside down until he died.
As for Apostle Paul, he was formerly called Saul, born in Tarsus, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, following the Pharisees doctrine. He was an expert scholar of the Torah, as he was brought up by Gamaliel, the most famous teacher of that era. Saul had been very jealous, persecuting Christians everywhere, and he witnessed the stoning to death of St. Stephen, while guarding the clothes of the stoners. Brutally persecuting Christians, he took letters from Caiaphas, the high priest at the time, to the Jews settled in Damascus to arrest the Christians and cast them in prisons. On the road to Damascus, Lord Christ appeared to Saul, as light shone upon him from heaven; He fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” In Damascus, he met Apostle Ananias and was baptized by him.
Paul traveled around the world as a missionary, he suffered many pains; he was beaten, stoned, insulted and imprisoned. He made three missionary trips, then entered Rome and proclaimed faith, and a large crowd believed. God performed many miracles at the hands of Apostle Paul that his handkerchiefs and aprons healed manyand cast away devils. During his preaching, he wrote fourteen epistles to the believers. Finally, Emperor Nero arrested and tortured him, then ordered his beheading.
Happy feast to you, and… stories about beautiful Egypt never end!
General Bishop
Headof the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
