The Origins of Lent

The project reexamines the origins of Lent in light of recent critiques of the generally accepted theories. These are: (1) Lent emerged as the result of a gradual prolongation of the primitive one- or two-day pre-paschal fasts; (2) Lent was modeled on Jewish Passover preparation; (3) Lent arose around a third-century hagiopolite lectionary cycle; (4) Lent emerged as the result of the transposition of an ancient Egyptian post-Epiphany fast. By fusing the methodologies of comparative and early liturgy, the project seeks to argue for a nuanced version of the fourth theory by highlighting the importance of dogmatic and liturgical controversies and the Council of Nicea in the rapid dissemination of the fast.