Less known things about today’s great holiday
The church celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit – Pentecost today, June 8th. On the fifth day of the resurrection of Christ, in Jerusalem, when the Holy Spirit came into the world and descended upon the Holy Apostles, the Church of Christ was founded.
Pentecost is the origin of the Church and its model, because around the apostles, in the assembly, the first Christian disciples were also present. The Holy Spirit was given to the primary apostolic community (Acts 4:11) endowing it with everything that was necessary for the Christian body: the preaching of the gospel, the mysteries, the charisms, the deacon.
The church draws its inner life from the continuous update of Pentecost, by invoking the Holy Spirit. That is why « we can celebrate Pentecost at any time, » says Saint John Chrysostom (‘Dictionary of Orthodox Theology’ – about Holy Pentecost).
The historical existence, the continuity with the apostles and any sacramental action of the Church now depend on the invocation of the Holy Spirit.
So what do we need to know about the Holy Spirit?
That he is the third person of the Most Holy Trinity, that he proceeds from the Father and that he was sent to the world through the Son, after his ascension to heaven, says Saint Cuios Cleopa from Sihăstria.
But why did he come to Earth ten days after the Ascension of the Lord?
Because the Son of God, when he rose to heaven, stumbled a day to each of the nine angels to renew them and rejoice through his resurrection. The tenth day, say some holy parents, after the Son settled to the right of the Father on the throne of His glory, sent the Holy Spirit to the world.
Why is it called the Holy Spirit « the comfort » and « the spirit of truth »?
Because the Holy Spirit comforts Christians as they are on earth. He comforts the mothers who give birth and raise children, caress the orphan children, the poor, the infirm, the widows and the sick and the elderly. The Holy Spirit comforts and strengthens in faith and patience the martyrs who endure heavy torments and give their lives for Christ. The Holy Spirit comforts the believers, the monks and the servants of the Church during the prayer and the heavy temptations that come upon them from the devil, from the wicked people and their inclined nature. The Holy Spirit comforts the hearts of the humble and eager for Christ and rebukes by conscience the sinners who do not repent.
The Holy Spirit is called the « Spirit of Truth » because through Him the right faith is confessed and defended on earth, the Orthodox dogmas are strengthened, the Holy Gospel in the world is proclaimed, the saints, the prophets, the hierarchs, the priests and the pious people who keep the Church of Christ are inspired. He sanctifies them all, straightens and guides them « at all truth » the Holy Spirit, which remains with us « in age », that is, on earth and in heaven, after our move to eternal ones.
The Holy Spirit will « confess » about Christ that he is the Son of God the Savior and the judge of the world and « will proclaim », that is, he will discover His future mysteries.
But why did the Holy Spirit come on Sunday and in the form of fire settled on the ends of the Holy Apostles in the fingertips of Jerusalem?
The Lord rose on Sunday, on the first day of the week, and also on Sunday at nine in the morning, the Holy Spirit came down over the apostles, to sanctify this day, as an eternal rest of the Christians instead of the Sabbath of the Old Law, and to urge us on Sunday, especially to the church, especially to the church.
The languages of fire that settled over the apostles « of a noise and breath that comes quickly » (Acts 2, 1-4) symbolized the fire of the Holy Spirit that would burn all unbelief, all the heresy and sin in the world.
Through the fire languages of the Holy Spirit were sanctified the twelve apostles, the Church was founded in the world and deacons, priests and bishops were to be ordained. Through this divine fire, the seven mysteries of the Church were to be performed, and the saving grace of the Holy Spirit were to be reversed. (Sources: Father Cleopa Ilie’s sermon on the Sunday of the Holy Spirit – https://doxology.ro; ”Dictionary of Orthodox Theology”, Ion Bria,
