The Pentecost
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me.”
The Story In A Minute
Pentecost Meaning
The word Pentecost is borrowed from the Greek name of the Jewish festival Shavuot. Shavuot is a Hebrew word which simply means “weeks” and so it signifies the Festival of Weeks mentioned in the Old Testament.
This Jewish feast is held 50 days after Passover of the Jews, and so it was called Pentecost by the Hellenic Greek community – simply meaning “fiftieth day”.
It is one of the three major Jewish pilgrimage festivals which holds two important meanings to the Jews:
1) it marks the wheat harvest in Israel as mentioned in Exodus 34:22, and
2) it commemorates the anniversary of the day when God gave the law and the commandments to Moses and the people of Israel.
1) it marks the wheat harvest in Israel as mentioned in Exodus 34:22, and
Early Church Tradition
The Early Church held on to this tradition of calling it Pentecost because 50 days after the Great Christian Passover – the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ – we see that the Lord now grants humanity a new gift, different from that which was given to Moses: the gift of the Holy Spirit.
While in the Old Testament humanity receives the law written on tablets of stone, in the New Testament the apostles and humanity now receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Life-giver and Comforter which was promised to us by the Lord.
The Significance of Pentecost
In the book of Acts, we hear about how the apostles of the Lord along with the Holy Virgin Mary gathered together in prayer 50 days after the Passover. Saint Luke describes to us the following event:
"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…"
This was in fulfillment of the promise made by Jesus before His crucifixion:
"The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you"
(John 14:26).
Saint Mark explicitly mentions the promise to enable them "to speak in new tongues"
(Mark 16:17).
These and similar pledges were all fulfilled ten days after the Ascension, that is, fifty days after the Resurrection, equivalent to the Jewish Feast of Weeks that occurred on the fiftieth day after the Passover (Deuteronomy 16).
Joyful Fifty Days
The Fifty Days are a great period of joy, so there are no fasts or prostrations. This period is a time of praising our Savior, enjoying our restoration to Him, and growing in our relationship with Him.
We journey through this joyful season with Sunday Gospel readings deepening our understanding of our Lord in His Glory.
Each Sunday of this period takes the following theme:
1. My Lord and my God - Thomas Sunday
2. The Bread of Life
3. The Living Water
4. The Light of the World
5. The Way, the Truth, and the Life
6. The King of Peace
7. The Comforter
Musical Celebration in the Fifty Days
Khristos Anesti Hymn
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.
Glory to the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Fifty Days are a victorious time of celebration, and the hymns of the Church reflect that. One of these joyful hymns is Khristos Anesti (Greek for Christ is risen).
Sung first in the Resurrection liturgy itself and then throughout the liturgies of the 50 Days, it is one of the most beautiful, hopeful hymns of the church: rejoicing in the power of the Lord over death and taking comfort in what that promises for our departed loved ones.
Importance of the Feast
The Coptic Orthodox church celebrates 7 Major Feasts every year. The Pentecost is one of them. The other 6 major feasts are: The Annunciation, Nativity, Epiphany, Palm Sunday, Resurrection, and the Ascension.
The feast of Pentecost is very important because it is the feast of the Holy Spirit. As Christ ascended into heaven He tells His disciples not to fear because He will send down the Holy Spirit as their Comforter. Thus, the Holy Spirit descended on the holy and pure apostles in the form of tongues of fire.
Pentecost is considered the day that the Church was established. On this day we are filled with the Holy Spirit, Who guides us, supports us, purifies us, and gives us strength.
The Church's Celebration of the Feast
The Pentecost Feast, Or the Settlement of the Holy Spirit, is one of the Major Master’s Feasts, and is considered as the Church's Birthday. It is prayed in the morning with the joyous rite, then all people gather in the afternoon and “The Pentecostal Prostrations” are prayed.
There is History to this name; it goes back to what happened with St. Macarius the Pope of Antioch, when a strong wind blew, and so all the people knelt down, right after which the wind calmed down, but whenever the people stood up, the wind blew again, so they knew that God’s will is that these prayers should be done in prostration and reverence.
The Theme of the Holy Spirit Post-Pentecost
With Pentecost celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, we are reminded of the great gift of His help and comfort. It is with the power of the Holy Spirit that the disciples were able to go throughout the earth and bring the people to Him. Likewise, it is with the Holy Spirit that we too are given strength to continue renewing our spiritual lives and serve everyone in the world around us.
Hence, the hymn Asomen calls the Holy Spirit the Paraclete or Comforter. Sung during the Apostles' fast- the period directly following Pentecost- it is a fitting bridge connecting the joyous Ascension and Pentecost to the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in the apostles' worldwide ministry.
Spiritual Application from the Orthodox Creed
While we celebrate Pentecost as a historical event in the life of the Church, we also celebrate it as a daily reminder of the Holy Spirit, Whom we have living and working within us. The Holy Spirit is God within us. To the Christian, the celebration of Pentecost is one where we declare that we have faith that God now works with us, through us, and dwells within us.
In our daily prayer in the Orthodox Creed we say: "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son, is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke by the prophets."