Originally published in Tiqvah Magazine Volume 1, Issue 2 (APR – JUN 2023), read about each Apostle and their significance in the magazine
The Fast of the Apostles is one of the five Fasts kept in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The Fast begins this year on June 16 until June 29, which ends in the celebration of the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul. The Mar Thoma Church begins this Fast with the Celebration of Word and Sacrament, that is preaching and fellowship of the Holy Qurbana. The theme this year is titled ―Call and Commission to be Christ’s Disciples, with readings from Jeremiah 1:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, Acts 9:10-17, and Matthew 4:17-22. The end of this Fast is also celebrated with preaching and Holy Qurbana, with readings from Joshua 1:1-9, Gal 2:1-13, 2 Timothy 1:3-12, and Matthew 20:25-28.
This is the correct practice in the Mar Thoma Church; to begin the Fasts with preaching and celebration of the foretaste of the heavenly feast gifted to us by Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Holy Qurbana. The Fasts are also ended in this same manner. In this way, we set the standard for the practice of the Fast. What is that standard? It is the importance given to reading of the Bible and also the practice of the economy of salvation revealed to us through the Holy Qurbana. This practice was historically kept by the 19th century reformers of the Mar Thoma Church. On the beginning of the 15-Day Fast in remembrance of the life of St. Mary, mother of our Lord (Dukh’rono d’marth Maryam), Kaithayil Geevarghese Malpan celebrated Holy Qurbana on 1 September 1837 at the Church in village of Kollad (now in Kottayam District in Kerala). On the last day of the Fast (Malayalam, Nombu Veedal), the Holy Qurbana was celebrated by Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan at the Church in the village of Maramon. In both instances, the Malpans used the revised Order of Holy Qurbana, which led to the beginnings of fierce opposition to the reform movement in the then united Jacobite Syrian Church. The Apostles‘ Fast also ends with the Holy Qurbana, on the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul (June 29) during which the stalwarts of the faith and Architects of the Christian Church, St. Peter and St. Paul are remembered.
Rev. Dr. George Mathew Kuttiyil, respected liturgist and priest in the Mar Thoma Church, described the Fast of the Apostles in his book, A Study of the Fast and Feasts in the Church. He wrote that the Fast “is observed in remembrance of their life of evangelization. The Apostolic nature of the Church and evangelic work are emphasized.” This is important for us to remember; the Fast is not a mere ritual but it is a special time and space for each believer to turn their attention to the call for evangelization and the spreading of the Good News of Jesus Christ. When we look into the life of the Apostles, as well as all the saintly men and women who followed in their footsteps, we see this desire for evangelization which coincides with the loving service to one another and wider society.
The lives of the Apostles are only briefly described in the New Testament. There are other extra Biblical sources. However, legendary tales have been mixed into the reality of their lives and ministry. We must be able to separate fact from fiction. In the following pages, we outline their lives, Bible passages, traditional source material, iconography and the motifs associated with them. In artwork, most of them are shown with a book (Gospel). The instruments of their martyrdom (like swords or clubs) are often shown. In any case, we should be able to see in the lives of the Apostles their calling, commitment, and zeal for the Kingdom of God. May they be for us a model of discipleship and faithful Christian living.