While it may seem as though Lent has been around since the earliest days of Christianity, historians continue to debate whether the Apostles themselves established the season of Lent.
For example, an early 20th-century book, A Pulpit Commentary on Catholic Teaching, argues that the Apostles established Lent.
However, at the same time, the authors of the book grant that there was no uniform way of observing Lent in the early Church.
This observation is further confirmed by Nicholas V. Russo in an article written for Baylor University.
It wasn't until the "Council of Nicea in 325 did the length of Lent become fixed at forty days."
Part of the reason behind a varied observance of Lent in the first three centuries of the Church is that Christians were often simply trying to survive and not get killed. Widespread persecution in the Roman Empire did not allow for universal liturgical seasons.
While the Apostles may not have established Lent as we know it, they likely did observe a period of intense preparation before Easter, following Jesus' example of fasting and prayer.
