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Why did early Christians fast before Easter?
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Easter
Resurrection of Christ, oil on wood panel by Raphael, 1499–1502; in the Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 52 × 44 cm.
Early Christians observed a period of fasting before Easter primarily as a form of penitential preparation, a practice that likely dates back to apostolic times.1
This period, known as Lent, served two main purposes in the early church:
- Preparation for Baptism: It was a time for candidates to prepare for their baptism.1
- Public Penance: It provided a period of penance for grievous sinners who had been excluded from Holy Communion and were seeking restoration to the church community.1
Beyond these specific roles, the practice was also observed in imitation of Jesus Christ’s 40-day fast in the wilderness before he began his public ministry. During these early centuries, fasting rules were strict, often limiting participants to one meal a day in the evening and forbidding the consumption of meat, fish, eggs, and butter.21