Fast of Nineveh
In Syriac Christianity, the Fast of Nineveh (Classical Syriac: ܒܥܘܬܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܝ̈ܐ Bā'ūṯā ḏ-Ninwāyē, literally "Petition of the Ninevites") is a three-day fast starting the third Monday before Clean Monday from Sunday Midnight to Wednesday noon, during which participants usually abstain from all dairy foods and meat products. However, some observe the fast more rigorously and abstain from food and drink altogether from Sunday midnight to Wednesday after Holy Qurbana, which is celebrated before noon.
| Fast of the Ninevites ܒܥܘܬܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܝ̈ܐ | |
|---|---|
Jonah preaches to the Ninevites | |
| Official name | ܒܥܘܬܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܝܐ |
| Observed by | Chaldean Catholic Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Church of the East Syro-Malabar Church Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch Malabar Independent Syrian Church Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Mar Thoma Syrian Church Syriac Orthodox Church Coptic Orthodox Church Ethiopian Orthodox Church Eritrean Orthodox Church |
| Type | Christian |
| Begins | Monday of the third week before Lent |
| Ends | Thursday of the third week before Lent (i.e. feast day) |
| 2023 date | 6–8 February (Coptic orthodox) 30 January- 1 February in churches using the Western Calendar |
| 2024 date | 22-24 January (Assyrian Church of the East, Syriac Christian Churches, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Chaldean Catholic Church) , Syriac Orthodox Church |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Great Lent |
The three day fast of Nineveh commemorates the three days that Prophet Jonah spent inside the belly of the Great Fish and the subsequent fast and repentance of the Ninevites at the warning message of the prophet Jonah according to the bible. (Book of Jonah in the Bible).