Jonah's Fast

Overview

The Fast of Jonah, also designated the Fast of Nineveh, is a three-day period of fasting that is observed to commemorate the penance of the Ninevites at the preaching of Jonah (Jon. 3:1-10).

The three days period represents the time spent by Jonah inside the whale. The three days can also be taken to represent the three days of fasting observed by the Ninevites that is described in the Septuagint (Jon. 3:4). The fast begins on a Monday, two weeks before the beginning of the Great Lent, and concludes with the celebration of Jonah's Feast on Thursday. Liturgies are held daily in the afternoon. The eating of fish and all forms of animal fat is not allowed during this fast.

History

This fast was originally kept by the Syrian Orthodox Church and was adopted as one of the fasts of the Coptic Church by Patriarch Abraham, the sixty-second Pope of Alexandria (975-978), as a mark of unity and solidarity between the two sister churches.

Rites and Hymns of Jonah's Fast

The tune of Jonah's Fast follows that of the Great Lent Weekdays. The readings are found in the Great Lent Lectionary.

Vespers

Vespers Praises (and Vespers Raising of Incense) are only prayed on Sunday evening before Jonah's Fast.

Midnight Praise

• The Commemoration of the Saints is chanted in the Great Lent Weekdays tune.
• The hymn Ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲉϩ ⲛ̀ⲥⲱⲕ is chanted in the Great Lent Weekdays tune.
• The Doxology for the Fast of Jonah is chanted before the Midnight Doxology for the Virgin Mary.
• The appropriate Psali (Adam or Watos) for the fast is chanted before the Psali of the day.

Prime

• The hymn Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏ̀ⲥⲟⲛ is chanted instead of the Verses of Cymbals
• The Doxologies are chanted in the Great Lent Weekdays tune
• The Doxology for the Fast of Jonah is chanted before the Prime Doxology for the Virgin Mary
• After ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ:
  • The congregation responds with ⲁⲙⲏⲛ ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ.
  • The candles are extinguished, and the veil of the sanctuary is drawn shut.
  • Then the Prophecies are chanted in Coptic, then translated.
  • The Prostrations are conducted (ⲕⲗⲓⲛⲱⲙⲉⲛ ⲧⲁ ⲅⲟⲛⲁⲧⲁ)
  • The veil is reopened and the candles are lit
  • The Litanies of the Great Fast are prayed, with the prostrations.
• The gospel response for each day is chanted in the Great Lent Weekdays tune

The Divine Liturgy

• The hours of the Agpeya are prayed until the Twelfth Hour (the Veil is also prayed in monasteries)
• The hymn ⲁⲗⲗⲏⲗⲟⲩⲓⲁ ⲉⲓⲉⲓ ⲉϧⲟⲩⲛ is chanted during the Offertory
• After the Thanksgiving Prayer:
  • The hymn ⲥⲱⲑⲓⲥ ⲁⲙⲏⲛ is chanted in the quick tune
  • The hymn ⲛⲉϥⲥⲉⲛϯ is chanted
  • The Prostrations are conducted (ⲕⲗⲓⲛⲱⲙⲉⲛ ⲧⲁ ⲅⲟⲛⲁⲧⲁ)
  • The congregation chants ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ
  • The congregation chants ⲛⲓⲥⲁⲃⲉⲩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ in the presence of the patriarch, a metropolitan, or a bishop
  • The priests and deacons descend from the sanctuary
  • The priest recites the Absolution of the Ministers
• The hymn ⲛⲑⲟ ⲧⲉ ϯϣⲟⲩⲣⲏ is chanted followed by ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱϣⲧ
• The Praxis Response ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ is chanted
• The gospel response for each day is chanted in the Great Lent Weekdays tune
• The Fraction for the Great Lent is prayed
• During the Distribution:
  • Psalm 150 is chanted in the Great Lent Weekdays tune
  • The hymn ϫⲉ ϥⲥⲙⲁⲣⲱⲟⲩⲧ is chanted in its known tune
  • The hymn ⲓⲱⲛⲁⲥ is chanted in the tune of ⲡⲓⲙⲁⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ
  • The hymn ⲡⲓⲙⲁⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ is chanted

Readings

Reading		Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday
Vespers	Psalm	Psalm 94:1, 2	-	-
	Gospel	Luke 13:1-5
Matins	Prophecy	Jonah 1:1-17	Jonah 2:1-10	Jonah 3:1-4:11
	Psalm	Psalm 102:1,7	Psalm 102:13,8,9	Psalm 102:12,11
	Gospel	Matthew 7:6-12	Luke 13:6-9	Matthew 11:25-30
Liturgy	Pauline Epistle	Romans 6:17-23	Colossians 1:21-29	Ephesians 2:1-22
	Catholic Epistle	Jude 1:1-13	1 Peter 4:3-11	1 John 2:12-17
	Acts	Acts 2:38-47	Acts 17:30-34	Acts 15:21-20
	Psalm	Psalm 129:3,4	Psalm 84:2,3	Psalm 31:1,5
	Gospel	Matthew 12:35-45	Luke 11:29-36	Matthew 15:32-16:4