Here's the Proof that 'the Redemption' Period in Alexandria was Thirty Days

For the regular readers of my blog, you know that I was developing the understanding that Lent developed out of the thirty day 'redemption' period between Purim and Passover in the Jewish tradition. I developed a number of arguments to prove that the Christian redemption must have been thirty days from LGM 1 (or Mark x.38 if you don't accept the authenticity of the Letter to Theodore) to Easter Sunday.

I found clear evidence that the Marcosians and Clement of Alexandria venerated the Triacontad (the number thirty), but no specific reference to a religious period (fast or otherwise) which lasted thirty days.

I finally found it in Stromata Book 6 Chapter 11.

Clement writes that "there are some who say that three hundred cubits are the symbol of the Lord's sign; and fifty, of hope and of the remission given at Pentecost; and thirty ... they say points out the preaching [of the Gospel]."

Since the the reference to thirty is preceded by a reference to fifty - which is associated with a period of fifty days (i.e. Passover to Pentecost) - the thirty HAS TO BE a referecne to a period of thirty DAYS of preaching (i.e. Purim to Passover).

I am also starting to incorporate the idea of a forty day fast period from the first Sunday A WEEK AFTER Epiphany. It's just a guess but I think that you'd end up with a forty day period followed by a thirty day period followed by fifty day period.

Just thought I'd share that with you.