THE SUNDAY OF THE HOLY TRINITY - PENTECOST

THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON THE APOSTLES (COMMONLY CALLED GREEN HOLY DAYS)

On the tenth day after His Ascension into Heaven, Christ sent the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. This was the day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Christ's Resurrection. The disciples were gathered for the purpose of Prayer. "Suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rustling mighty wind" (Acts 2 : 1). At the same time, cloven tongues of fire appeared and settled upon each of the disciples and on the Holy Theotokos. And all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit "and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4).

The Christian Church was born on Pentecost Day. The Church became a living society when the Holy Spirit descended from Heaven and took His abode within the Church and its people. Until Pentecost Sunday, the Church in Jerusalem was little more than a handful of scared and unfaithful followers of

Christ. But the coming of the Holy Spirit upon them transformed them. They received power, the fire of the Spirit of God.

Apostle Peter started to preach to the Jews about the Resurrected Christ. And then those who gladly received His word were baptized: "and the same day there were added unto them (the Apostles) about three thousand believers" (Acts 2 : 41). Another time, he preached at the Temple about Christ's Resurrec­tion and most of the people that heard the Word believed and they asked him what they should do. "Repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2 : 38), the Apostle answered them. "And the number of the men were about five thousand" (Acts 4:4).

The Feast Day of Pentecost is observed by Orthodox Christians in honour of the Holy Trinity and is one of the twelve most significant Holy Days of the Orthodox Church. It is celebrated fifty days after the Resurrection of Christ.

On this day our homes and Churches are decorated with branches from trees, which are now green. The green represents something alive, reminding us that God sent down to the world the Life-Giving Holy Spirit.