The Feast of Pentecost

"The first time I saw trees in an Orthodox Church was at St. Tikhon’s Monastery in Pennsylvania, just after Pentecost Sunday. I was completely caught off guard. Though I had been in a number of different Churches over the years, I had never been in a parish of Russian background for the feast of Pentecost. Thus I had missed the Slavic practice of bringing trees into Church for the feast of Pentecost. It was wonderful – like going into Church only to find a forest." 
-- Fr. Stephen Freeman The Trees of Pentecost


Mr. Husband and I went to our
near-by church for Pentecost.

The green of Pentecost began
before we even entered the church.

How we long for this feast!
Truly,
we are longing for the Holy Spirit.
For the Strength to have our lives transformed
by Christ, to have Christ living in us.

The day of the Holy Trinity.
The day of the Holy Spirit coming
making all new, giving the hope that humanity
can truly always be with their loving Saviour
Jesus Christ. 

That in the midst of the brokenness of our
society, life is bursting forth. 

True life is here.

A woman yesterday told us that
in Russia her Grandmother
used to bring grass in the house everywhere
with flowers and the smell alone was
so beautiful.

 

Truly it is a day that everyone
is longing for
with a thirst for Christ's living water.
My {Ottawa} spiritual father used to talk about how
when people are dehydrated,
even dying of thirst,
that they do not know it,
they do not feel thirsty.
So it is for all of us,
not realizing how much of our longing for
beauty, for life, for stability, for peace,
is a longing for Christ's Holy Spirit.
*
Two prayers of Pentecost:

Troparion:

Blessed art You O Christ Our God

You have revealed the fishermen as most wise

By sending down upon them the Holy Spirit

Through them You drew the world into Your net

O Lover of Man, Glory to You!

Kontakion: 

When the most High came down and confused the tongues,

He divided the nations;

But when he distributed the tongues of fire

He called all to unity.

Therefore, with one voice, we glorify the All-holy Spirit!

*
Ways to keep Pentecost in our lives and in our homes:

*Praying the prayers of Pentecost at home from Pentecost to the
apodosis of Pentecost on the following Saturday (see above for prayers)
*Having the icon of Pentecost in our prayer corner
*Pentecost Sunday is also Trinity Sunday ~ having an icon of a Trinity
in your prayer corner is also very appropriate
*Putting flowers or other greenery in your prayer corner
*Adorning your Pentecost icons with flowers or greenery
*Decorating our homes with green (ideas could be flowers,
green in table clothes, dishes, etc.)
*Wearing green to church
*If possible go to liturgy on the Monday, Holy Spirit Day
*Having festive meal on Pentecost, Holy Spirit Day
 *
I would love to hear ways you bring the
celebration of Pentecost in your life and in your home!