Nineveh Fast

[Little_Boy_Lost]

Hi all,

I was wondering if someone could tell me about the Nineveh Fast, it’s significance, when it became a tradition in the church, and which traditions observe it. Thanks!

 

[malphono]

This has come up several times in the past (usually around this same time of year). If you haven’t already done so, it might be worth a look at those old threads. A search on “Nineveh Fast” should do the trick.

 

[Alexander_Roman]

Hi all,

I was wondering if someone could tell me about the Nineveh Fast, it’s significance, when it became a tradition in the church, and which traditions observe it. Thanks!

If I may give a quick response, the Nineveh Fast is a three-day fast in the third week prior to Lent, Monday-Wednesday (this year it is on February 14, 15 and 16). At one time, it was six days in length and was formally enacted in the Assyrian Church in the sixth century.

It represents a type of Christ’s Death and Resurrection, with Jonah coming out of the whale and so is a precursor to the events that will be commemorated during Lent and Holy Week. The Churches of the Syriac tradition began doing the Nineveh Fast and now all the Oriental Orthodox and Catholic Churches follow it. There are special liturgical prayers said during the three-day fast which is very strict and some people go the entire three days without food.

I like to observe it and find great consolation from its rich significance.

Alex

 

[Joe_Kelley]

If I may give a quick response, the Nineveh Fast is a three-day fast in the third week prior to Lent, Monday-Wednesday (this year it is on February 14, 15 and 16)… /quote]

Then we must all have the same date for Easter [April 24th] this year. That is always good.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Alexander Roman;7491300:

If I may give a quick response, the Nineveh Fast is a three-day fast in the third week prior to Lent, Monday-Wednesday (this year it is on February 14, 15 and 16)… /quote]

Then we must all have the same date for Easter [April 24th] this year. That is always good.

Many Eastern Catholics now follow the Gregorian Calendar, especially those communities in North America.

 

[Alexander_Roman]

Joe Kelley;7496711:

Many Eastern Catholics now follow the Gregorian Calendar, especially those communities in North America.

In actual fact, the calculation of the date of Easter has nothing to do with either calendar - but by the prescriptions set down by the early Ecumenical Councils.

The Orthodox Churches of the Greek tradition and under Constantinople will celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25th, but will always celebrate Easter on the date that the entire Christian East celebrates in conformity with the conciliar prescription.

As an Eastern Catholic who has tried to celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25th - I can tell you that we wind up celebrating Christmas twice! To celebrate Christmas on January 7th - it really does feel like Christmas! No commercialism, just spirituality and the family traditions. Then there is the feast of the Naming of Jesus/Circumcision with St Basil the Great on Jan. 14th and then the glorious Feast of the Theophany/Epiphany on January 19th.

There’s nothing like it and I know Western Rite Orthodox who have adopted the Old Calendar and who tell me the same thing.

Traditionalist Roman Catholics should also try the Julian Calendar since that is the more “traditional” one!

Alex

 

[priscillajlaw]

Quite frankly, that latter isn’t consistent with how God has always warned specifically when He’s about to render His judgment, and only those who believed and obeyed God were graciously spared (Noah, Lot, Abraham, Nineveh, etc.) I am curious however about what others believe, or are being taught.
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