U ponedeljak 11. juna pocinje Petrovdanski post koji ove godine traje 31 dan. Duzina ovog posta zavisi od datuma praznovanja Vaskrsa - ako je Vaskrs ranije, Petrovdanski post je duzi i obrnuto. Ovaj post je jedan od cetiri godisnja posta i ustanovljen je u cast svetih apostola Petra i Pavla i kao priprema za praznik Petrovdan koji uvek slavimo 12. jula (29. juna po julijanskom kalendaru).

Petrovdanski post pocinje 11. juna

Postovani parohijani, draga braco i sestre,

U ponedeljak 11. juna pocinje Petrovdanski post koji ove godine traje 31 dan. Duzina ovog posta zavisi od datuma praznovanja Vaskrsa - ako je Vaskrs ranije, Petrovdanski post je duzi i obrnuto. Ovaj post je jedan od cetiri godisnja posta i ustanovljen je u cast svetih apostola Petra i Pavla i kao priprema za praznik Petrovdan koji uvek slavimo 12. jula (29. juna po julijanskom kalendaru). Ova poslednja sedmica pred Petrovdanski post u kojoj se sada nalazimo, je jedna od pet u toku godine, trapavih sedmica u koju ne postimo sredu i petak. Ispovest ce se u hramu sv. apostola Tome u Johanesburgu, vrsiti prve sedmice posta i to: u petak 15. juna u 18h i u subotu 16 juna u 13h. Sveto pricesce cemo primiti na svetoj liturgiji u nedelju 17. juna.

Svi postovi su ustanovljeni na duhovnu korist vernika koji ih drze i postuju. U postu se dusa i telo ciste i tada se trudimo da vise mislimo na vecno nego na prolazno, na nebesko nego na zemaljsko, na dusu nego na telo. Postoji post tela i post duse. Post tela je kada se uzdrzavamo od hrane zivotinjskog porekla (meso, mleko, jaja...), a post duse je kada se uzdrzavamo od losih i gresnih misli, reci i dela.

Savet nase Majke - Crkve Pravoslavne, svojoj duhovnoj deci i svakom Srbinu ponaosob je: vratimo se svojim korenima, dodjimo na izvor Zive Vode, Istine i Smisla. Nastojmo da sticemo duhovna, istinska blaga, “gde rdja ne kvari i lopovi ne mogu da ukradu”.... Vratimo se duhovnim vrednostima koje, ako ih steknemo zasigurno nam donose srecu, zadovoljstvo i u ovom zivotu i vecno spasenje u Carstvu Bozijem. Duhovni plodovi su: cista savest, iskrena ljubav, jaka vera, postovanje Boga, Njegovih zapovesti i bliznjih i sirok spektar vrlina (prastanje, nezlopamtljivost, trpljenje, nezlobivost, milostivost, molitvenost, samokriticnost, odlucnost u dobru)...
Овај пост, чији је почетак покретан (јер зависи од Васкрса), а заврштетак је непокретан, установљен је на основу успомене на Апостоле који су после Силаска Светога Духа, а пре одласка на проповед Св. Јеванђеља, постили (Дап 13,2-3). Због зависности почетка овог поста о Васкрсу, Апостолски пост најкраће може трајати једну седмицу и један дан, а најдуже шест седмица.

Историјат

Прва сведочанства ο овом посту имамо код Св. Атанасија Великог (296-373). У Александрији, Антиохији и у Јерусалиму, овај пост везивао се за Духове, а не за празник Св. Апостола Петра и Павла, и трајао је једну седмицу. Касније је овај пост постао припремни пост за празник Светих Апостола и његово трајање је постало зависно од Васкрса, односно празника Силаска Светог Духа - Педесетнице. У Апостолским установама налазимо сведочанство о почетку овог поста: "После Педесетнице празнујте једну седмицу, а онда постите" (том 5, глава 19).

О високом уважавању које је Петровски пост имао међу Хришћанима, говори цео низ светоотачких списа, међу којима су и Амвросије Милански и Теодор Кирски. Лав Велики каже да је Петровски пост "посебно важан, да би кроз подвиг очистили своје мисли и начинили се достојнима дарова Светога Духа" (Беседа 76).

ON THE APOSTLES' FAST

(This year starts on Monday 11 June and finished always
on the feast of St Apostle Peter and Paul on 12 July. 

A History of the Apostles' Fast - This fine article surveys patristic testimony for the fast, the various traditions concerning its duration, and lastly the ascetical practices associated with it. From the first paragraph:

"The Apostles almost always fasted."
St John Chrysostom, Sermon 57 on the Gospel of Matthew

The fast of the holy Apostles is very ancient, dating back to the first centuries of Christianity. We have the testimony of St. Athanasius the Great, St. Ambrose of Milan, St. Leo the Great and Theodoret of Cyrrhus regarding it. The oldest testimony regarding the Apostles Fast is given to us by St. Athanasius the Great (†373). In his letter to Emperor Constance, in speaking of the persecution by the Arians, he writes: "During the week following Pentecost, the people who observed the fast went out to the cemetery to pray."

"The Lord so ordained it," says St. Ambrose (†397), "that as we have participated in his sufferings during the Forty Days, so we should also rejoice in his Resurrection during the season of Pentecost. We do not fast during the season of Pentecost, since our Lord Himself was present amongst us during those days … Christ’s presence was like nourishing food for the Christians. So too, during Pentecost, we feed on the Lord who is present among us. On the days following his ascension into heaven, however, we again fast" (Sermon 61). St. Ambrose basis this practice on the words of Jesus concerning his disciples in the Gospel of Matthew 9:14, 15: "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridgeroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

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"The apostles served the Lord Jesus and later provided leadership to the first generation Christian believers.

They were of such importance that the word "apostle" occurs approximately seventy-nine times in the New Testament. Acts of the Apostles portrays the apostles as leaders of the first church in Jerusalem during the Church's first decade. The apostles truly established the church and with their fast we contemplate the glory of God, their faith, and hardships in which they overcame."

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Let us therefore consider this simple word from one of the Fathers, Blessed Augustine:

The more days of fasting there are, the better the healing is; the longer the period of abstinence, the more abundant the gain of salvation is.

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Fasting (all dates at this text are acording to old julian calendar)

Our Church adopted fasting from the Old Testament. Christ Himself fasted and preached about its significance (Matt. 6:16; Mark 2:20 and 9:29). The early Church also observed fasting (Acts 13:2; 14:23 and II Cor. 2: 27). From very early times we have documents (such as Didache of the 12 Apostles) substantiating the early establishment of regular fast days, such as Wednesday and Friday: these two days are symbolical and commemorative of Christ’s betrayal and crucifixion. By the end of the fourth Century, the forty-day (Great) Lenten fast was widespread. Later the Church also adopted other fasting periods.

Fasting, accompanied by prayer and charity, is a way of disciplining our entire person, not just the body. Contrary to what most people think, it underlies – rather than undermining – the significance of the body towards the glory it also contributes. Furthermore, fasting is a small way of sharing in contemporary suffering throughout the world.

In our ecclesiastical calendar, fasting usually precedes great feasts and acts as a preparation for these events.

Fasts Prescribed By The Church

Wednesday and Friday:

Every Wednesday and Friday is to be observed with fasting unless some important Feast takes precedence over the fast. (See exceptions noted below.)

The fast on Wednesday is in memory of the betrayal of the Lord, and the fast on Friday is in remembrance of His Passion and Death upon the Cross.

Special Fast Days:

August 29: the Beheading of St John the Baptist;

September 14: the Exaltation of the Holy Cross;

January 5: the Eve of Epiphany.

Great Lent:

Lent begins forty days before Palm Sunday, on the Monday after Cheese-Fare Sunday and lasts until the evening preceding Palm Sunday through to Holy Saturday. On 25 March and on Palm Sunday, Orthodox faithful are allowed to have fish.

The Fast of the Holy Apostles:

The Fast of the Holy Apostles begins on the Monday after All Saints’ Sunday (the Sunday next after Pentecost) and lasts until 29 June (12 july by new civilian calendar), the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This Fasts varies in length according to the date of Pascha (Easter). This year Apostles fast start on Monday 11 June.

The Fast of the Theotokos:

The Fast, which precedes the Feast of the Dormition of the All-Holy Theotokos, begins on August 1 and lasts until the day of the Feast 15 August.

The Fast of the Nativity:

The Fast, which precedes Christmas, begins on 15 November and lasts until the day of the Feast of the Nativity, 25 December.

Periods When Fasting Is Not Allowed

The Church does not allow fasting during the following periods:

The week following the Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican;
The week following Meat-flesh is required during this week but no other fasting);
The week following Holy Pascha (Easter);
The week following Pentecost;

The period between Nativity and the Eve of Epiphany;
All Saturdays, excepting Holy Saturday, and all Sundays (wine and oil are always permitted on these days even during Great Lent, but meat, fish and dairy products maybe restricted.