Petrovsky post: what you can eat?

Every year, a week after the feast of Pentecost, the Petrine post begins. From what date does it take its start, depends on the day of Easter and the next one after 50 days of Pentecost. The end of it always coincides with the day of memory of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, in honor of which it was established - on July 12. Thus, the beginning of the Petrovsky post is changing, and the ending is not. For this reason, its duration can be from 8 to 42 days. In the people this post is often called Petrovka.

The Apostles Peter and Paul

These greatest servants of God, called for their merit first-prince apostles, in their earthly lives were absolutely opposite people not only in their belonging to different social strata of society, but also in their development and mental fold. And if one of them - Peter - was a disciple of Christ in the days of his earthly life, then the other - Paul - was never honored to personally contemplate the Savior and got tied up to serve him after the ascension.

About the apostle Peter, the elder brother of the Apostle Andrew, it is known that he was a simple fisherman, poor and illiterate. He had never studied anything except his craft, and all his life's concerns were reduced to daily bread, which he earned with hard work. Peter at once with all his soul believed in Christ and followed him all the days of his earthly ministry. He was an ordinary weak man and, by his cowedness, 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 lineage, was a man well-read, educated and at the beginning of his life's path an irreconcilable persecutor of Christians. When the Lord filled his heart with true faith, he directed all the heat of his soul and the power of reason to preach his teachings. With the same fervor with which he had previously persecuted the disciples of Christ, believing, he became their mentor and support. The Petrovsky post is set in memory of these two people, personifying a selfless faith and a cold mind multiplied by strength and energy - qualities from which a true missionary is formed.

Establishment of the Petrovsky post

The veneration of these great servants of God began in the first centuries of Christianity. At the same time, the Peter's fast was established by the church. Especially widespread, he received after the temples in Rome and Constantinople were erected in their honor. It was the day of the consecration of the Church of Constantinople - July 12 - that was chosen to celebrate the memory of these first-century apostles.

In Russia, this holiday and the preceding Petrovsky post appeared in ancient times. In the common people it was often called Petrovi, and sometimes even Petrovka-hunger-strike. There is no disrespect to religion, just in those days when the Petrovsky post begins, the reserves of last year's harvest came to an end, and the new one was still very long - hence the famine and the bitter-ironic name.

Explanation of the name

Sometimes people who are not vercerized, but who show interest in Orthodox values, have a question related to the title of this post. Their perplexity is caused 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 speak of the dominant role of the apostle Peter? Of course, no, they are absolutely equal in their deeds and merits, and the name of the post is established solely because of its euphony.

Establishment of the New Testament of God

We should also dwell on this important question: why does the day when the Petrine post begin, follow the Pentecost holiday? The answer to it can be found in the writings of the holy fathers of the church. They indicate that the descent to the apostles of the Holy Spirit on the fiftieth day after the exodus from the tomb of our Savior Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the New Testament of God with people.

This new Zion Law, inscribed in the hearts of people, has replaced the decrepit Sinai, whose commandments were carved on stone tablets. On that day, the grace of the Holy Spirit was sent down to strengthen the children of the holy church in their battle of Christ. It was for the purification of the soul and body before the fulfillment of such an important mission that the Petrovsky post was established. In the days of the Pentecost itself, he would be inappropriate, since this is the period of the Savior's stay with his disciples.

What do they eat in the Petrovsky post?

And more important for all information. The question that is asked by all who intend to hold the Petrovsky post for the first time : what can you eat these days? It should immediately be noted that he is not as strict as Lent. It is not only the tasting of meat and dairy food that is blessed. Fish dishes are allowed on all days, except Wednesday and Friday. Moreover, on Saturdays, Sundays and on the days of temple holidays, the use of wine is not forbidden.

It is important to take into account also such detail that if the calendar of the Petrovsky post in any certain year has developed in such a way that its ending - the feast of the holy apostles Peter and Paul - falls on Wednesday or Friday, this day is also a part of the fast, although with some Indulgences. In all other cases, there is no fasting.

Work on yourself

But not only food restrictions include the Petrovsky Post. What you can eat and what not, it's easy to find out. It is important to understand deeply that fasting is first and foremost a work on the state of one's own soul, in which the rejection of fast food and ordinary worldly entertainment is only an auxiliary tool. This rule fully corresponds to each of the posts established by the Orthodox Church, but Petrovsky has his own peculiarities in this respect.

Obedience to the gospel

The fact is that the fast is set 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 the service of the word of God that the basic task of the apostolate is determined. Over time, this obedience was entrusted to the hierarchs of the church - bishops and priests. They became successors to the apostles and continue their great work. However, this does not mean at all that the laity have the right to get rid of it.

To bear people the word of God is work worthy of rewards at any time of the year, especially in the period of fasting, which is the threshold of the feast of the primitive apostles. Every Orthodox Christian in these days could try his hand at this noble career. There is a very wide scope of activity.

Apostleship internal and external

Everyone should direct this apostolic ministry primarily to himself. There is even such a term - "inner apostolate". Under it is meant work, the purpose of which is to bring the good news to one's own consciousness. Success in this endeavor will enable a person internally to accept everything that the holy church teaches. He will acquire the ability to sincerely perceive God's church as a mother, and prayer will become for him a true communion with God.

Successful in the apostleship of the inner will be able to work in the field of the external apostolate, that is, to preach Christian truths among his neighbors. This is undoubtedly the duty of every Orthodox person, because we are accountable to God for everyone who surrounds us, and for everything that is happening around us. It is very important here not to succumb to the temptation coming from the enemy of the human race and sometimes trying to convince us that our weak forces will never be enough to carry out such a task. The main thing is to believe in God, and he, if it is his will, will give strength.

As for those food and other restrictions mentioned above, they help us for a while to fast to abandon the bustle of the earth and devote ourselves entirely to the holy cause. Everyone in these days must become, in varying degrees, an apostle and precede his ministry by fasting and prayer. Yes, we are weak, weak and often simply ignorant, but such were the apostles. Their strength consisted of faith, and all the rest they gained by the invasion of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God, poured out upon all who are ready to receive it.