Pentecost
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Pentecost is a feast—symbolically related to the Jewish festival of Shavuot—in the Christian liturgical calendar that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the followers of Jesus seven weeks after Easter and ten days after Ascension Thursday. Pentecost is also called "Whitsun" in UK and other English-speaking areas.
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[edit] The Baptism of the three-thousand
According to the Book of Acts, the experience of the Pentecost was shared by all in the large crowd, causing confusion and inspiring fear.
- When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. [...] Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? [...] Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Acts 2:6-12
Then the Apostle Peter, standing with the eleven other apostles, spoke to the crowd. He explained that these strange events had been predicted by the prophet Joel, and that Jesus's coming had been prophesied by David. Peter explained that these events confirmed David's prophesied exaltation of Jesus. Peter then exhorted his listeners to turn to Christ. About three thousand responded to Peter's sermon.
[edit] Signs of the coming of the Holy Spirit
Three physical signs occurred showing the coming of the Holy Spirit:
A. Sound of Blowing Wind
B. Vision of tongues of Fire that rested on each of them. The tongues of Fire which descended on the disciples represents a theophany (a visible manifestation of God). This is important to Christianity in that it represents the dynastic succession of power from Jesus to the Holy Spirit who guides the believers. See also Luke 3:16-17.
C. They heard the apostles speaking in the native tongue of the listener, i.e., the miracle was in the hearing. This was important in that it was key for the spread of the gospel. The Holy Spirit acted as a translator so that as the preaching occurred everyone there comprehended the message in their own native language. (This event has also been interpreted as the opposite of the events at the Tower of Babel, which, according to the tradition, introduced the language barriers in the first place.)
- Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. [...] Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Acts 2:26-33
Simon Peter also reminded the multitude (in Acts 2:17-21) that this experience had been predicted by the prophet Joel:
- "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." (Joel 2:28)
- Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [...] Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:38-41
[edit] Traditions and holidays
- In Italy it was customary to scatter rose petals from the ceiling of the churches to recall the miracle of the fiery tongues; hence in Sicily and elsewhere in Italy Whitsunday is called Pascha rosatum. The Italian name Pascha rossa comes from the red colours of the vestments used on Whitsunday.
- In France it was customary to blow trumpets during Divine service, to recall the sound of the mighty wind which accompanied the Descent of the Holy Spirit.
- In England the gentry amused themselves with horse races. The Whitsun Ales or merrymakings are almost wholly obsolete in England. At these ales the Whitsun plays were performed.
- In Poland the Pentecost is called "the Green Holiday" - people decorate their houses with green branches, which - according to tradition - are said to bring God's blessing upon the home and the people living in it. Another custom, which is slowly becoming rare, is making processions to the fields, where the crops are blessed.
- At Vespers of Pentecost in the Oriental Churches, the extraordinary service of genuflexion, accompanied by long poetical prayers and psalms, takes place. On Pentecost the Russians carry flowers and green branches in their hands. It ought also to be noted that the week prior to this holiday is known as "green week", during which all manner of plants and herbs are gathered. The Eastern Orthodox church considers this whole week to be an ecclesiastic feast.
It should be noted that the Jewish holiday of Pentacost is also associated with greenery. This holiday marks the time when Moses received the Torah on Mount Sinai on behalf of the Jewish nation, and tradition holds that Mount Sinai, despite being in the wilderness of the Sinai desert, miraculously sprouted vegetative growth in honor of this occasion.
The following Monday is a holiday in much of Europe. The day is known as Whit Monday in England, Wales, and Ireland, and is also celebrated in Iceland, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, parts of Switzerland, Germany and Hungary. Since 1967, however, Whit Monday has not been a public holiday in the United Kingdom; the holiday has been moved to the fixed date of the last Monday in May, which sometimes but by no means always coincides with Whit Monday. Whit Monday also ceased to be a statutory holiday in France in 2005, where the abolishment led to strong protests. Also in Sweden Whit Monday is no longer a holiday and June 6 (Swedish National Day) has become a day off.
Whitsunday remains one of the Scottish term days, at which debts are paid and leases traditionally expire, but this Scottish Whitsunday is now always considered to fall on May 15.
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[edit] When is Pentecost?
According to Church tradition Pentecost is always seven weeks after Easter Sunday. It is in mid- to late spring in the Northern Hemisphere and mid- to late autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
- 2002: 19 May
- 2003: 8 June
- 2004: 30 May
- 2005: 15 May
- 2006: 4 June
- 2007: 27 May
- 2008: 11 May
- 2009: 31 May
- 2010: 23 May
- 2011: 12 June
- 2012: 27 May
- 2013: 19 May
- 2014: 8 June
- 2015: 24 May
- 2016: 15 May
- 2017: 4 June
- 2018: 20 May
- 2019: 9 June
- 2020: 31 May
The earliest possible date is May 10 as in 1818 and 2285. The latest possible date is June 13 as in 1943 and 2038.
(The Eastern Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic churches observe a different date due to different dates for observing Easter.)
[edit] Etymology
↑ Pentecost is also known as Whitsun (Whitsun Day) in the UK. The week beginning on Whitsunday is called Whitsuntide (formerly also spelled Whitsontide) or Whitsun Week. In the Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), E. Cobham Brewer tells us that the origin of the term flows from Wit or Wisdom Sunday, the day when the Apostles were filled with wisdom by the Holy Ghost.
“This day Witsonday is cald. For wisdom and wit serene fald, Was zonen to the Apostles as this day.” Cambr. Univer. MSS., Dd. i. 1, p. 234.
“This day is called Wytsonday because the Holy Ghost brought wytte and wysdom into Christis disciples … and filled them full of ghostly wytte.” — In die Pentecostis (printed by Wynken de Worde).
In the Christian tradition, the Holy Wisdom of God (Hagia Sophia in Greek) is a divine attribute in which new Christians share to some degree through the sacrament of Confirmation, when they receive the Holy Spirit and share in Pentecost. Many churches are dedicated to it, the most famous being Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (Constantinople). It is sometimes associated with a sainted martyr of the same name, Saint Sophia, whose daughters are Faith, Hope and Charity. Many icons depict the four together (an example is available here).
[edit] See also
- Wave offerings
- Trinity Sunday, the first Sunday after Pentecost
- Green Week — the name of the Pentecost week in Slavic countries
- United Pentecostal Church
[edit] External links
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