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What is the Real Reason for The Lent Preparatory Week?

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Pharaoh

posted on Mar 15, 2010 - 08:55 PM

This is more of a call for scholars with more knowledge than me to comment on the above subject line.

We have all heard various explanations of the reason behind the week of fasting which has been added to the beginning of the Great Lent.

What appears to be accurate is that this week of fasting began as a promise made to Emperor Heraclius in the 7th century. Heraclius had promised the Jews peace after becoming victorious over Jersusalem in 628. Prior, the Jews and Persians had conquered Jerusalem and destroyed it's churches and killed it's Christians.

Heraclius was then apparently persuaded to break his promise of peace for the Jews, and in return, a week of fasting would be conducted for him each year.

Apparently a number of sister churches discontinued this fast after Heraclius' death. The Coptic Church did not.

Now there are alternate explanations for this fast (making up for non-abstaining days, preparation, etc).

But the question is: Did this fast originate as described above and is it appropriate to continue it even if we have come up with alternate explanations?

I apologize in advance for any inadvertant inaccuracies in what I may have written. Again, I invite scholars to comment on this.

God Bless

Joined: Jan 08, 2003 | Posts: 153

Remnkemi

posted on Mar 20, 2010 - 07:54 AM

Pharaoh,
Sorry I didn't respond to this sooner. This hypothesis was explored before. OHE Burmester, a Greek scholar who studied and taught in Egypt during the 50's wrote the same story in his book, "The Egyptian or Coptic Church: a detailed description of her liturgical services and the rites and ceremonies observed in the administration of her sacraments" 1967. He is a very influential scholar but many believe this Heraclius theory is old.

I found one article from the Syrian Orthodox Church's Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies that recalls the story and explores its validity. It can be found here.

Basically, this theory raises more questions than it answers. What you left out is that the Pope Abraam (who was Syrian and the Coptic patriarch of the Mokattam mountain story) added the fast of Jonah from the Syrian Church. Melkite historians, who focused on the anti-Semitic, anti-Jewish tone of the Mokattam miracle, used the Heraclius story as the cause of the addition of a week to the Great Lent fast. Let me explain,

Basically, Melkite historians claimed the Copts added Jonah's fast because of the Syrians and the Syrians added the Week of Heraclius because of the Copts. However, the Heraclius story is not found in any Coptic Orthodox manuscripts, neither the Synaxarium, the katameros or any liturgical rites. It is only found in the Melkite history by Patriarch Eutychius. In fact, Coptic historians, like John of Nikiu who writes a lot about Emperor Heraclius never mentioned this story. The story is also absent from Syrian historians.

So quite honestly. I think this story is a fabrication by Melkite historians who showed a great deal of animosity against the Oriental (non-Byzantine, non-Chalcedonian) Churches. There are other stories about Melkite-Coptic animosity. They twisted the Mokattam monestary miracle to propagate an anti-Semitic, anti-Christian reputation against the Copts.

I think we should just believe the Copts added a week to the Great Lent to make up for the Saturdays which are not the same degree fasting as the weekdays. It has nothing to do with Heraclius.

George

Joined: Apr 07, 2003 | Posts: 792
Location: Boston, MA USA

Meghalo05

posted on Mar 20, 2010 - 11:30 AM

Also, I think Egaria the pilgrim's story is worth noting. The Church of Jerusalem fasted this "preparation" week as a way to compensate for days without strict abstinence ie Saturdays and Sundays. This practice was documented in the fourth century by Egaria the pilgrim. Before the whole Heraclius concept.

Either way to be honest with you, the whole week before the Great Lent as preparation is kind of an awkward idea. I enjoy more what our brethren the Eastern Orthodox do with regards to preparing for lent; in having a series of Sundays before Lent in order to prepare one for the Great Forty. Each with a specific theme, and unique rituals/symbols bringing one closer to the strict Great Fast.

I suppose this label of "preparation week" just started to grow. But how it prepares us? I honestly don't know. There is nothing different in this preparation week than the actual 40 days. It's even directly attached to the 40 days. How do we prepare during this week exactly? Makes me wonder.

But I think the Heraclius theory is kind of awkward. So let's just stick with the Egaria theory, and how it has been a tradition to compensate for the Saturdays and Sundays where there is no strict abstinence. A tradition which was practiced by one of the original churches very early on in Christianity.

My opinions...

Love never fails

Joined: Jan 18, 2005 | Posts: 365
Location: St. Mary and St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Indianapolis, IN

gbibawy

posted on Mar 25, 2010 - 05:02 AM

Here's a link to a short article by Fr. Shenouda Maher regarding the eight weeks fast of our church:

http://stshenouda.rochcopts.org/Publications.php?v=001%20-%2040%20Days%20and%2040%20Nights.txt

(For more details on this topic, please see “Liturgical and Ritual Issues and Proposals Concerning the Restoration of Communion” by Fr. Shenouda Maher Ishak, pp. 82-90.)

Hope this helps.

In Christ,
George

Joined: May 18, 2003 | Posts: 4

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