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Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills.

More than two thousand years ago, an event occurred that is difficult to find an equal in the entire history of mankind. On this day, the disciples of Christ were honored with the descent of the Holy Spirit on them and showed the foundation of the future Church of Christ. Exactly fifty days separated this event from the day when, having trampled death, their Teacher rose from the grave. A holiday was established in memory of this. His name is Pentecost. What is it?

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The Holy Gospel tells that after His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ remained among His disciples for forty days. He appeared to them many times, residing in a new, non-material body - the one that in the future all those who have acquired eternal life. After forty days, the Savior ascended to heaven, doing this in front of his disciples. He made them witnesses of the miracle in order to further kindle faith in their hearts.

Leaving them alone for the time being, Christ commanded his disciples to remain inseparably in Jerusalem, pray and wait for His messenger, the comforter - the Holy Spirit. The apostles, with all the fervor taking into their hearts the words of the Teacher, nevertheless could not understand clearly enough. Nevertheless, all the following days they were filled with a feeling of approaching joy.

The miracle that happened in the Upper Room of Zion

The book “The Acts of the Apostles” tells how they gathered together every day in a special room - the Upper Room of Zion. It was under this name that it was included in the New Testament. Nearby was the house of the youngest and most beloved disciple of Jesus, the Apostle John. On the day of His agony on the cross, the Savior entrusted him with the care of His Mother - Holy Virgin Maria. Since then, She constantly stayed in his house.

Having gathered together with the Most Pure Virgin and the Apostle John, the disciples of Christ indulged in prayers and reading Holy Scripture. This continued for ten days, until what Jesus predicted before His ascension happened. The New Testament describes the scene very vividly and movingly. It is not difficult to calculate when this happened. It is known that the Lord ascended on the fortieth day after His Resurrection. Let's add here the ten days that the apostles spent in the Upper Room of Zion, and we get fifty - Pentecost!

What this is and how it happened, we learn in detail from the book “The Acts of the Apostles.” It says that on the day of the Jewish holiday of the first harvest, at the third hour of the day, suddenly a strong noise was heard in the air, as happens during a hurricane, and tongues of fire illuminated the upper room. But this was not an ordinary fire, but precisely the one that now descends before the Easter holiday in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Shining brightly, it did not burn or cause pain. It was not a material fire. Having shone above the heads of the apostles, amazed by the consciousness of the miracle, tongues of flame rested on each of them.

Birth of the Christian Church

The action of Grace, which descended on them along with the Holy Spirit, immediately made itself felt. The apostles felt an incredible surge of strength and energy. They were filled with a feeling of love for God and people, and a willingness to give all of themselves apostolic ministry. To accomplish this, each of them miraculously received the gift of speaking in languages hitherto unknown to him, which made it possible to carry the word of God different peoples and countries.

United by the Grace of God that rested upon them, the apostles revealed themselves as a new, united church. Therefore, the Day of Holy Pentecost is considered to be the birthday of the Christian Church. From that day on, human souls flowed in an endless stream into her maternal arms. And it was from this day that the apostles began their ministry, bringing people the light of Divine truth.

The meaning of the holiday of the Holy Trinity - Pentecost

The holiday of Pentecost is one of the most important in Orthodoxy. Its meaning is close to such solemn days as Easter and Christmas. This is not accidental, because the concept forms the basis Christian faith. In 381, the Church Council, held in Constantinople, adopted the dogma of three Divine hypostases: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. From these days the holiday was established, which we now call Trinity - Pentecost. What this is was clearly and clearly formulated in the documents of the Council, and it is by them that we are guided to this day.

Since this holiday is the birthday of our church, it is always celebrated with special joy. It has become a tradition on this day to prepare treats and invite family and friends to the table. Everyone knows the custom of decorating houses and the interior of churches with flowers and birch branches on the day of Pentecost. By the way, not necessarily birch. In some places, bunches of fragrant herbs such as sage or lovage are used. This ancient custom. It is based on the fact that God in His trinity brought life, which in this case and symbolize green tree branches and tufts of grass.

Church service on this holiday

The Pentecost service is always celebrated in churches solemnly and at the same time joyfully. On this day the entire clergy appears in vestments green. This combines unusually organically with the greenery of the birch trees decorating the room. The parishioners stand holding flowers and bouquets of the same birch branches in their hands, and when at the end of the service they are raised above their heads for sprinkling, the temple turns into a living spring grove.

Celebration of Mid-Pentecost

Another one is connected with this holiday. interesting tradition. IN Orthodox Church It is customary to celebrate a day called Mid-Pentecost, that is, half of those days that separate Bright Resurrection from the day of the Holy Trinity. The name of the holiday dates back to Gospel times. In the New Testament we read how the Lord last year During his earthly life, he entered the church and taught there on the day of the Old Testament Feast of Tabernacles. The Gospel testifies that everyone present was amazed at the depth and wisdom of his words. In honor of this teaching, the holiday of Mid-Pentecost was established. He prepares us for the day of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrew roots of the holiday

It is interesting to note that there is a Jewish holiday - the Old Testament Pentecost. What is it? The fact is that the ancient Jews had a custom on the fiftieth day after their exodus from Egypt (Passover) to celebrate the holiday of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. Mentions of it are found in many ancient authors. For example, in his writings he calls it Pentecost. Under the same name he appears in the works of many other Greek and Byzantine authors.

This holiday was established in honor of the fact that on this day of liberation from Egyptian slavery the Jewish people received stone tablets with the Ten Commandments inscribed on them. They became known as the Law of Zion, and were the starting point for the creation of religious and legal basis future state. Of all the currently celebrated Orthodox holidays, only two have Old Testament roots, these are Easter and Holy Pentecost.

Celebration in the first centuries of Christianity

Much evidence has survived to this day about how this day was celebrated in the first centuries of Christianity. Of particular interest are the records of one pilgrim from Western Europe, written in the 4th century. In them she talks about how on the Friday before the holiday they performed all-night vigil in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem, as the bishop read the Gospel, and when dawn broke, everyone moved to another - main church, in which the sermon lasted until the third hour of the day.

But this was not the end of the service, since after a short rest everyone, led by the bishop, went to Zion, where excerpts from the “Acts of the Apostles” were read, telling about the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. That day ended with a service on Mount Elion, at the place from which the Savior ascended. Such a long service, the participants of which were not only Christians living in Palestine, but also pilgrims from distant countries, speaks of the high status of this holiday and the understanding of those present of the full significance of the event.

1. Pentecost- a holiday of the Orthodox Church, belongs to. Otherwise called. Celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter (Sunday). The Feast of Pentecost is dedicated to the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles: on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (and on the tenth day after the Ascension of the Lord), when the Apostles gathered together, “suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and it filled the whole house, where they were. And cloven tongues as of fire appeared to them, and one rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (; see also below).

Pentecost ends the Easter cycle, and next weeks are numbered in the liturgical calendar as “weeks after Pentecost.”

2. Pentecost– fifty days from the day before the feast of the Holy Trinity.

On the first Sunday after Easter (the second Sunday of Pentecost), the appearance of the risen Jesus Christ to the apostles and the assurance of the apostle are remembered. Thomas (see).
On Tuesday of the second week in the Russian Orthodox Church a pan-church commemoration of the dead is performed -.
The Third Sunday of Pentecost is dedicated to St. to myrrh-bearing wives (see).
On the fourth Sunday, we remember Jesus Christ’s healing of the paralytic at the Sheep Font ().
Fifth - the meeting of Jesus Christ and the Samaritan woman ().
The sixth is dedicated to the memory of the healing of a blind man ().
On the fortieth day of Easter (Thursday of the sixth week) is celebrated.
On the seventh Sunday, Sts. Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council.
Saturday of the seventh week is Trinity Parents' Saturday.
On the fiftieth day, Sunday of the seventh week, the day of the Holy Trinity and the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles is celebrated; this day is also called the Feast of Pentecost.
Monday after the Holy Trinity is the day.
On the first Sunday after Pentecost, the memory of All Saints is celebrated.
Peter's Fast begins on Monday of the second week after Pentecost.
In the Russian Orthodox Church, on the second Sunday, the memory of All Saints who shone in the Russian land is celebrated.

Services for Pentecost, Holy Spirit Day and All Saints' Day are held in Tsvetnaya.

Decorating the Temple for the Feast of Pentecost

“Decoration of young trees of birch and other species is not established church rules, A folk custom. The Holy Synod prohibited (Decree of 1875, May 23) the use of young birch trees for this decoration, and allowed the use of flowers, artisanal and semi-artisanal plants and tree branches. The Novgorod Spiritual Consistory explained to the local clergy that the ancient custom of decorating churches and houses with greenery on the day of the Holy Trinity must be supported, and not be concerned about its complete cessation. Order Holy Synod“on the preservation of young trees from being used to decorate temples, residential premises, etc. on certain holidays.” The goal was not to destroy this custom, but only to prevent the unnecessary destruction of young birch trees, in view of the public benefit, which, of course, did not mean areas where the very density of forest growth requires the cutting down of excess trees to free the growth of other trees. Therefore, the Novgorod Consistory ordered the deans that in the future they should stop reporting information regarding young trees in their semi-annual reports.”

Manual for Rural Shepherds, 1889, 19

Trinity Day is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter, which is why this holiday is also called Pentecost.

Afterwards, His disciples continually lived in a sense of celebration. For another forty days He appeared to them one by one and gathered together. Before the eyes of the disciples, the Lord rose above the earth, as if assuring them that on the last day of the world He would come to earth in the same way as He had gone to God the Father. Saying goodbye to them for the time being, He promised to send them the Comforter - the Holy Spirit emanating from God the Father. The disciples did not know what this meant, but they believed that everything would be according to the word of the Lord.

Like fire in a hearth, they maintained the blessed state of that day in their souls, gathering every day in one house on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. In a secluded upper room they prayed, read Holy Scripture. This is how another ancient prophecy came true: “Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord out of Jerusalem.” This is how the first Christian temple arose. Near that house was the house of Christ’s beloved disciple, the Apostle John the Theologian; according to the will of the Lord, His Mother, the Virgin Mary, also lived there. Disciples gathered around Her; She was a consolation for all believers.

The Feast of Pentecost, or the Day of the Holy Trinity, went like this. On the tenth day after the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, on the day of the Jewish holiday of the first harvest, when the disciples and with them were in the Zion Upper Room, at the third hour of the day a strong noise was heard in the air, as if during a storm. Bright, flickering tongues of fire appeared in the air. It was not a material fire - it was of the same nature as the Holy Fire, which descends annually in Jerusalem on Easter; it shone without burning. Rushing over the heads of the apostles, tongues of fire descended on them and laid them to rest. Immediately, along with the external phenomenon, the internal one took place, taking place in the souls: “ being all filled with the Holy Spirit.”“Both the Mother of God and the apostles felt at that moment an extraordinary power acting in them. Simply and directly, they were given from above a new grace-filled gift of the verb - they began to speak in languages that they did not know before. This was the gift needed to preach the Gospel throughout the world.

Washed, generously gifted by the One Spirit, feeling that this was only part of the spiritual gifts they had received from the Lord, they held each other’s hands, forming a new shining bright Church, where God Himself is invisibly present, reflected and acting in souls. Beloved children of the Lord, united with Him by the Holy Spirit, they emerged from the walls of the Zion Upper Room to fearlessly preach Christ’s teaching about love.

In memory of this event, the Feast of Pentecost is also called the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit, as well as the day of the Holy Trinity: in the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, who came from God the Father according to the promise of God the Son, the mystery of the unity of the Holy Trinity was revealed. This day received the name Pentecost not only in memory of the ancient holiday, but also because this event occurred on the fiftieth day after Christian Easter. Just as the Passover of Christ replaced the ancient Jewish holiday, so Pentecost laid the foundation of the Church of Christ as union in the Spirit on earth.

Hymns for the Feast of the Holy Trinity: Troparion of the Trinity, Kontakion of the Trinity, Glorification of the Trinity

Troparion for the Feast of the Holy Trinity, tone 1

Kontakionfeast of the Holy Trinity, voice 2

Greatnessfeast of the Holy Trinity

We magnify You, Life-Giving Christ, and honor Your All-Holy Spirit, Whom You sent from the Father as Your Divine disciple.

Articles about the Feast of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost)

Trinity-Sergius Lavra

Photo report
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article about the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary

Icons of the Holy Trinity

What date does Trinity Day fall on in 2019? What is the history of this Orthodox holiday?

What date is Trinity, Trinity Day in 2019?

The color of the Trinity holiday is emerald green. This is the shade of fresh, lush grass or foliage that has not had time to get tired and absorb the heavy dust of the city. The churches glow from the inside like an emerald cloud - hundreds of birch branches are carried by parishioners, the floor of the church is densely covered with grass, the musty smell of June is intensified by the rays of the sun from the church windows, mixed with subtle notes of incense and wax candles. The candles are no longer red, but honey-yellow - “Easter is given away.” Exactly 50 days after the Resurrection of the Lord, Christians celebrate the Holy Trinity. Great Holiday, beautiful Holiday.

… Fifty days after the Passover, the Jews celebrated the day of Pentecost, dedicated to the legislation of Sinai. The apostles did not take part in mass celebrations, but gathered together with the Mother of God and other disciples in the house of one person. History has not preserved evidence of his name and what he did, we only know that it was in Jerusalem... It was about three o'clock in the afternoon according to Jewish time (about nine o'clock in the morning according to modern reckoning). Suddenly, from heaven itself, from above, an incredible noise was heard, reminiscent of the howl and roar of a rushing strong wind, the noise filled the entire house in which the disciples of Christ and the Virgin Mary were located. People began to pray. Tongues of fire began to play between people and began to dwell for a moment on each of the worshipers. So the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, with which they received the amazing ability to speak and preach in many languages, previously unknown to them... The Savior’s promise was fulfilled. His disciples received special grace and gift, power and ability to carry the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is believed that the Holy Spirit descended in the form of fire as a sign that it has the power to scorch sins and cleanse, sanctify and warm the soul.

On the occasion of the holiday, Jerusalem was full of people; Jews from different countries converged on the city on this day. A strange noise from the house where the disciples of Christ were, caused hundreds of people to run to this place. Those gathered were amazed and asked each other: “Are they not all Galileans? How do we hear each of our own languages in which we were born? How can they speak with our tongues about the great things of God?” And in bewilderment they said: “They got drunk on sweet wine.” Then the Apostle Peter, standing up with the other eleven apostles, said that they were not drunk, but that the Holy Spirit had descended on them, as was predicted by the prophet Joel, and that Jesus Christ, who had been crucified, had ascended into heaven and poured out the Holy Spirit on them. Spirit. Many of those who listened to the sermon of the Apostle Peter at that moment believed and were baptized. The apostles initially preached to the Jews, and then dispersed to different countries to preach to all nations.

So Saint Andrew, who is also called Andrew the First-Called, went preaching the Word of God to eastern countries. He passed through Asia Minor, Thrace, Macedonia, reached the Danube, passed the Black Sea coast, the Crimea, the Black Sea region and along the Dnieper rose to the place where the city of Kyiv now stands. Here he stopped at the Kyiv Mountains for the night. Getting up in the morning, he said to the disciples who were with him: “Do you see these mountains? On these mountains the grace of God will shine, there will be great city, and God will raise up many churches.” The apostle climbed the mountains, blessed them and planted a cross. After praying, he climbed even higher along the Dnieper and reached the Slavic settlements where Novgorod was founded.

Miraculously, the Apostle Thomas, who believed in Christ, reached the shores of India. Still in southern states In this country, Kerala and Karnataka, live Christians whose ancestors were baptized by St. Thomas.

Peter visited various areas the Middle East, Asia Minor, and later settled in Rome. There, according to a very reliable tradition of the late 1st and early 2nd centuries, he was executed between 64 and 68 AD. According to Origen, Peter, at his own request, was crucified upside down, since he considered that he was unworthy to undergo the same the execution that the Lord suffered.

While enlightening the nations with the teachings of Christ, the Apostle Paul also undertook long journeys. In addition to his repeated stays in Palestine, he preached about Christ in Phenicia, Syria, Cappadocia, Lydia, Macedonia, Italy, the islands of Cyprus, Lesbos, Rhodes, Sicily and other lands. The power of his preaching was so great that the Jews could not do anything to oppose the power of Paul’s teaching; the pagans themselves asked him to preach the word of God and the whole city gathered to listen to him.

That grace of the Holy Spirit, which was clearly taught to the apostles in the form of tongues of fire, is now given invisibly in the Orthodox Church - in its holy sacraments through the successors of the apostles - the shepherds of the Church - bishops and priests.

The holiday of Christian Pentecost contains a double celebration: and to the glory Holy Trinity, and to the glory of the Holy Spirit, who descended on the Apostles and sealed the new eternal covenant of God with man.

On the Feast of the Holy Trinity, established at the end of the 4th century, after the dogma of the Trinity - the Trinitarian God - was officially adopted at a church council in Constantinople in 381, we are talking about one more important aspect Christian faith: the incomprehensible mystery of the trinity of God. God is one in three persons and this mystery is incomprehensible human mind, but the essence of the Trinity was revealed to people on this day.

By the way, for a long time Christian artists did not depict the Trinity, believing that God can only be depicted in the person of Jesus Christ - the son of God. But not God the Father, not God the Holy Spirit should not be written... However, over time, a special iconography of the Holy Trinity was formed, which is now divided into two types. The Trinity of the Old Testament is familiar to each of us famous icon Andrew of Radonezh (Rublev), on which God is depicted in the form of three angels who appeared to Abraham. The icons of the New Testament Trinity are images of God the Father in the form of an old man, Jesus Christ as a youth in his bosom or an adult husband, according to right hand from him, and the Spirit - above them in the form of a dove.

In Rus', they began to celebrate Holy Pentecost not in the first years after the baptism of Rus', but almost 300 years later, in the 14th century, when St. Sergius Radonezh

From this day until the next holiday of Holy Pascha, they begin to sing the troparion to the Holy Spirit “Heavenly King...” From this very moment, prostrations to the ground are allowed for the first time after Easter.

... The Divine Service on the Feast of Holy Pentecost is touching and beautiful. The temple is decorated, the priests are dressed in green vestments, the smell of grass and fresh greens, the choir “... renew in our hearts, O Almighty, the true, right Spirit,” sounds solemnly and brightly, the parishioners kneel and read the special prayers of St. Basil the Great. And it's juicy outside early summer- a reminder of that beautiful and profound “summer of the Lord” that Jesus Christ promised the righteous.

We celebrate Pentecost - the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles of Christ, the beginning of their preaching, the birth of the Church of Christ. Do we know everything about this day?

Why were the apostles given the gift of speaking in tongues, and why did it not last long and not survive to this day? How is it that this miracle was ridiculed by some? Why does the Holy Spirit descend visibly, in the form of tongues of fire? And what is this wind that burst into the upper room? If the Holy Spirit descended only on the 12 apostles of Christ, why is it depicted on the icons dedicated to Pentecost? Mother of God? And why do the Orthodox also call the holiday of Pentecost Trinity? Mosaic of the dome of the church of Hosios Loukas. Phokis. Approx. 1000 Do you know what Glossol is? A Leah?

Glossol A lia – revealed in Ancient Church the gift of speaking (sermon) to strangers foreign languages. Gift of tongues - glossol A lia - represents an exceptional phenomenon in the Church, in the life of believers of the first two centuries. The ability to speak in unfamiliar foreign languages was given by God to the apostles to preach the Gospel. The apostles received the Good News from the Savior and, having been instructed by the Spirit who descended on them, had to pronounce and carry it in the languages of all nations.

After the founding of national churches by the apostles in different countries, the need for the supernatural gift of tongues disappeared as unnecessary.

After the founding of national churches in different countries, the need for the gift of tongues disappeared

Do you know why some, when the apostles preached the gospel in tongues, said to them: “You are drunk”?

“And they were all amazed and amazed, saying among themselves, “Are these not all Galileans who speak?” And others mocked and said, “They got drunk on sweet wine.”(Acts 2:12–13). From this it is clear that this wonderful event was not equally accepted by everyone. Galilee was famous as a dark country, not distinguished by education, and therefore the assembled people were amazed at how these people, uneducated and unschooled, could speak many languages and dialects. It can be assumed that the apostles, glorifying God on different languages, went out onto the flat roof of the house, and the people listened to them, surrounding the house and filling the entire area in front of it - moreover, those gathered came from many countries.

“Well-meaning people rightly saw this as an extraordinary sign, trying to guess what it portended. But unbelieving, angry and frivolous people, who were perhaps from an environment hostile to Christ the Savior of the Pharisees and Sadducees, began mockingly explaining what happened in the most rude way - the action of wine - thus offending the Holy Spirit. This is exactly how unbelief, frivolity and malice always try to explain the highest things in spiritual life with base to vulgar reasons, being unable to understand this lofty thing (1 Cor 2: 14-15).” (Archbishop Averky (Taushev)). “So they slandered, understanding what was said; but they slandered because they were dissatisfied with what was said; because the apostles spoke of the greatness of God. How did they understand what was being said and attribute it to intoxication? Due to great madness and excessive cruelty; because for many, if they are dissatisfied with what is being said, it is the custom to consider the speaker either mad, or crazy, or to accuse him of being drunk and not understanding what he is saying; although the one who speaks speaks sensibly, and although the slanderer, at the very accusation of the first, listens and understands him. And these, accusing the apostles of drunkenness, showed even more insolence; because although they themselves listened to them in their own language, they believed that other people, people of the most diverse dialects, did not understand them. They themselves understood what was being said, but about the others, because of whom they slandered the apostles in their intoxication, they thought that they did not understand the miracle. Just as at the time when the Lord cast out demons, although they understood and saw these miraculous actions, but, instead of due glorification, they slandered the Lord that He performed them by the power of Beelzebub, and also, seeing all sorts of illnesses and sufferings being healed, they made these miraculous actions a reason for envy, denunciations and murder: so now, not being able to deny the miraculousness and the supernaturalism of tongues, they nevertheless dared to degrade the miracle to the point of intoxication.” (Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria).

If speaking in tongues is only meant to deceive people, then it is deception.

Do you know why the gift of tongues is not found today?

The gift of speaking in tongues is mentioned several times in New Testament Scripture. The first time was on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-18), when the apostles spoke in different languages among those gathered from different places. This speaking is a testimony from God and evidence of God Himself, who performed the miracle. Its purpose is obvious - to convert those gathered to God, capturing before them an obvious miracle created not by man, but by God.

In addition, the gift of tongues is spoken of in some other places, for example, in the first letter to the Corinthians, chapters 12-14. Mainly, among other things, one can highlight the fact that the gift of speaking in tongues is intended for edification and for the building up of the Church of Christ itself. This is evidence of Divine revelation. Miniature of the Gospel of Ravula. 586g. Florence Therefore, in the true sense, this gift does not occur today - due to the lack of real need for the Church. The Church is a storehouse of wisdom, which is based on the Body of Christ itself, as well as the works and revelations of many ascetics. The Church owns Tradition and Holy Scripture, has a clearly defined Creed and decrees and dogmas verified by time and experience, and therefore does not need edification, as in the first years of its foundation.

The evidence of truth for every believer is the grace given by God in church sacraments, and not speaking in tongues, which was rare even in apostolic times.

Do you know how to feel about the practice of “speaking in tongues” in some modern denominations?

As for the so-called “gift” of speaking in tongues among representatives of other religious organizations, it is worth noting some features. Namely, that the Apostle Paul, in the already mentioned letter to the Corinthians, writes about gifts, that they are different, and, most importantly, that “the manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for their benefit” (1 Cor. 12: 7). Among the gifts, the gift of speaking in other tongues is mentioned (1 Cor. 12:8), and it is also indicated that not everyone is given gifts: “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are everyone miracle workers? Does everyone have gifts of healing? Does everyone speak in tongues? Are everyone interpreters?”(1 Cor. 12:29–30). Therefore, it makes no sense to talk about the state of enlightenment based on the presence of this “gift,” as some claim. Further, the Apostle Paul says: “He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself.”(1 Cor. 14:4) and “If I come to you, brothers, and speak in unknown tongues, what benefit will I bring you if I do not speak to you either by revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or teaching?”(1 Cor. 14:6). And finally: “So if you utter unintelligible words with your tongue, how will they know what you are saying? You will speak into the wind"(1 Cor. 14:9).

Saint Gregory the Theologian says that the Holy Spirit acted in the disciples of Christ three times

We see the exact fulfillment of the words of the Apostle Paul in modern so-called speaking in tongues: incoherent speech containing only some signs of meaning, with zero content. This process does not edify either the speaker or the listener, since it is aimed only at impressing simple-minded people, convincing them of the work of the Holy Spirit over those who speak “in tongues.” Finally, here are the warnings of the Apostle Paul: “So you too, being zealous for spiritual gifts, try to be enriched by them for the edification of the Church.”(1 Cor. 14:12). Therefore, although speaking in tongues is mentioned as a gift of the Holy Spirit, if its purpose is only to deceive people, then, truly, it is not a gift, but a real deception. Such speaking is dangerous for both the speaker and the listeners. Let us pay attention to the apostle’s warning: “Do not forbid speaking in tongues; only everything should be decent and orderly"(1 Cor. 14:39).

Do you know why the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was necessary, if the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles even during the earthly ministry of Christ?

Saint Gregory the Theologian says that the Holy Spirit acted in the disciples of Christ three times. The first time - before Christ's suffering on the cross - was when Christ healed and cast out demons, which he did, of course, not without the action of the Holy Spirit. The second time - after the Resurrection: the breath of Christ, which was the “divine inspiration” of the disciples to preach (John 20: 22). Finally, for the third time, the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The first two cases were only a temporary action of the Spirit in the disciples, but after the third time He invariably abided in them.

It must be said that the Holy Spirit acted in people much earlier - in the Old Testament righteous men and prophets. But His action was special, different from what happened on the day of Pentecost. The Lord says: “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”(John 14:15–16). Next, the Lord says that the world cannot receive the Spirit of truth because it does not know Him. But in the apostles, who know the Lord, and therefore know the Spirit, the Spirit abides and will abide.

The upper room where the disciples gathered is also called the “mother of the Christian church”

The descent of the Holy Spirit is the final, final action, which, as the Lord said, will teach everything and remind everything that Christ said to His disciples. From that moment they received the power and grace to testify to Christ with the same Spirit. Moreover, the Apostle John writes: “He will come and convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment.”(John 16:8). Previously, the action of the Spirit prepared them, strengthened them, and gave them strength. But only after the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost did the apostles turn from frightened, wavering people into firm and determined followers of their Lord and Teacher - Jesus Christ.

Pentecost. Hood. Jean II Resta, oil on canvas, 1732

Did you know that the descent of the Holy Spirit was not only on the 12 apostles?

The upper room in which the apostles gathered was already a special place for them. She became the first Christian Church. According to church tradition, many sacred events of the New Testament took place here: the washing of feet (John 13: 4–11); the appearance of the risen Christ to the disciples (Mark 16: 14, Luke 24: 33, John 20: 19–23, John 20: 26–28); the meeting of the apostles after the ascension of Christ (Acts 1:13); election of the Apostle Matthew (Acts 1:15–26); as well as the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 1–4). Therefore, this upper room is also called “the mother of the Christian church.”

The Apostle Luke writes that “ when the day of Pentecost came they were all with one accord.”(Acts 2:1–4). All of them are disciples of Christ, apostles, of whom there were not only twelve, already with Matthew chosen instead of the fallen Judas Iscariot. There were unanimously and together all those who, as the Apostle Peter says, “were with us (the apostles - ed.) all the time that the Lord Jesus stayed and spoke with us, starting from the baptism of John until the day on which He ascended from us”(Acts 1:21–22). Therefore, it is believed that in the upper room where the apostles gathered, they were not the only ones .

The Holy Spirit descends in the form of tongues of fire as a sign of the baptism of the Spirit and fire, as predicted by John the Baptist

They gathered together to meet and celebrate the day of Jewish Pentecost - a holiday when all Jews were commanded to come to Jerusalem. Among them were those who heard the preaching of Christ and believed in Him. As a sign that the Holy Spirit descended not only on the apostles, the Mother of Christ, His closest and first Disciple, is often present on icons depicting this event.

Do you know why the Holy Spirit descended in the form of tongues of fire?

The Spirit descends on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire - as a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire, as St. John the Baptist predicted before the baptism of Christ (Matthew 3:11). Saint Gregory the Great wrote in his “Sermon on Pentecost”: “When tongues of fire appeared, then hearts began to burn within with sincere love for God.” The Holy Spirit descended in the form of tongues of fire and divided ones - because of the different gifts that He gave to people.

The event of Pentecost is contrasted with the Babylonian division of nations

Did you know that the day of Pentecost is the founding day of the New Testament Church?

The Feast of Pentecost is also called the birthday of the Church. Already two thousand years have passed since the Nativity of Christ, which divided the history of mankind into “before” and “after”, and with it many begin counting the history of Christianity. But when we talk about Christianity, we first of all mean the Christian Church.

In the church consciousness, the event of Pentecost has always been contrasted with the Babylonian division of nations, when at the beginning human history people wanted to build the Tower of Babel, which rose to the skies. And, opposing the atheistic plan of the proud, God confused their language. So people who had previously spoken the same dialect ceased to understand each other. As a result, the united people were divided and scattered across the face of the earth: “And the Lord scattered them from there throughout all the earth; and they stopped building the city [and the tower]"(Gen. 11:8–9). And through the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and the gift of speaking in tongues, the Lord makes it possible to unite divided nations. Having sent the Holy Spirit, He directed His apostles to different countries, which is what the word “apostle” itself says - “sent.” Sent in order to gather people scattered throughout the universe. But to gather no longer for utopian atheistic projects, as in Babylon, but for unification into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. And if the Babylonian division prevented the destruction of peoples who were supposed to become a faceless working mass, then Pentecost showed the way to unity while preserving the identity of everyone to whom the Lord turns.

Pentecost showed the way to the unity of peoples while preserving the identity of each

The kontakion of the holiday contains the same thought: “When the tongues of fusion descended, dividing the tongues of the Most High: when the fiery tongues were distributed, we called everything into unity, and accordingly we glorified the All-Holy Spirit.” That is, when the Most High came down and confused languages (in the Babylonian pandemonium), then He divided the nations. When He distributed tongues of fire (on the day of Pentecost), He called everyone to unity; and we unanimously praise the All-Holy Spirit.

On the day of Pentecost, the power of the preaching of the Apostle Peter was incomparable: about three thousand people were baptized then. Thus the New Testament Church was born. And from that day on, the Christian faith began to spread with incredible speed. The number of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ increased day by day. Taught by the Holy Spirit, the apostles boldly preached to everyone about the Son of God, about His suffering for us and the resurrection from the dead. The Lord helped them with numerous miracles that were performed through the apostles in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The power of the Apostle Peter's preaching was so great that three thousand people were baptized in one day

So, through the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Christian faith is established in the world and the Church of Christ begins its existence. Yes, we can say that before that there was a community led by Christ, then by the risen Christ, and, ultimately, it became a community of people led by the Holy Spirit - a theanthropic community. But such a definition limits the Church. It would probably be more accurate to say that the Church is not a community. And not even a community of people. But this is a spiritual process. The flow of God's breath, which includes people who have taken this breath into their hearts. It, God's breath, bursts into the world on the day of Pentecost. That “like wind” that burst into the upper room where the apostles and their like-minded people gathered was not an ordinary, physical wind. It was not like the “light breeze” that is mentioned in the Old Testament books, but a strong wind, almost a hurricane, rushing into the house. This is how the Kingdom, its breath of life, enters the world. It was as if the door of the Kingdom had opened and it poured here, to us. That’s right – not just into the congregation of the faithful, but into the world.

The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4); Balkans. Serbia. Pech; XIV century; location: Serbia. Kosovo. Peć Patriarchate. Church of St. Dimitri. Nave All meetings, how many there will be in the history of the Church, are only a derivative of this process, of this event. And this flow of the Kingdom in the world can be figuratively called, in fact, the Church. Because he gathers people into assemblies (that Greek word that is used to call the Church in the New Testament books, and is translated as “assembly”) and makes them the Church. Even those who happen to be nearby, as if by chance, like those people on the street who listened to Peter’s sermon. They heard what was behind the words. Only a resident of the Kingdom can hear this. And that means that everyone who listened to Peter then became for a time residents of the Kingdom, part of the Church.

But how long they remained in the Kingdom, and therefore in the Church, is another question. It was no coincidence that those “tongues of fire” overshadowed everyone who was in the room at that time. The light of God's presence is different for everyone. Like the Presence itself – each has its own. Its measure and its constancy depend not only on God, but also on man and his freedom. It is this that determines the extent to which a particular person is involved in the life of the Church. But that's already a question spiritual path specific believer.

And the Kingdom entered the world. The door is open. And everyone stands in front of this door. Whether to enter or not depends only on the person.

The kingdom has entered the world. The door is open. Whether to enter or not depends on the person

Did you know that the Feast of Pentecost existed in Old Testament, long before the incarnation of Christ?

On the third day of the stop at Mount Sinai, which was the fiftieth day after the Jewish Passover and the exodus from Egyptian captivity, God made a covenant with the people of Israel. The Ten Commandments (Decalogue) were carved on two tablets (stone tablets) that He gave to Moses. The prophet himself remained on Mount Sinai for forty days and nights while God pronounced all His commands.

Coming down from the mountain, Moses wrote down the entire law given to him by God in books that became part of the Holy Scriptures - the Pentateuch of Moses. In memory of the gift of the Sinai legislation, the holiday of Pentecost was established, which the Jews solemnly celebrated every year from that time on. This holiday is called Shavuot.

Like many other Jewish holidays, Shavuot celebrates not only certain historical event, but also the onset of a new season of the year, the completion of the next agricultural cycle. Shavuot was celebrated at the beginning of the wheat harvest season. This is the last of three pilgrimage holidays.

The descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples just happened on the pilgrimage holiday, when all of them, having come from different parts of Israel, remained inseparably in the Jerusalem upper room. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, this day acquires New Testament significance for Christians. The Lord founded the Church in which he concluded with us New Testament and poured out His grace into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5), which surpasses all law.

Jews celebrate Pentecost, Shavuot, in memory of the giving of the legislation of Sinai to Moses

Did you know that the event of the descent of the Holy Spirit was predicted many years before the events of the New Testament?

In one of the biblical books, the prophet Joel (whose book dates from the 11th to the 5th centuries BC) announced: “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy...And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be salvation, as the Lord has said, and for the rest whom the Lord will call.”(Joel 2:28–32).

The coincidence of the holidays of Trinity and Pentecost exists only in Orthodox Christianity

Do you know why the day of Pentecost is also called Trinity Day?

In Orthodox Christianity church holiday The Trinity is popularly called Pentecost. The fact is that Trinity is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter, and, accordingly, the date of the holiday changes from year to year, just like the date of Easter. The only thing that remains unchanged is that Trinity, like Easter, is always celebrated on Sunday. The events of Pentecost once again show us the revelation of the trinity of the Divine, therefore the holiday is dedicated to the glorification of the Holy Trinity.

Such a coincidence - Trinity and Pentecost - exists only in Orthodox Christianity. Among Catholics, Protestants, Baptists and representatives of other branches of Christianity, the holiday of Pentecost is celebrated a week before Trinity, that is, it is a separate holiday.
Miniature of the theological writings of John VI Cantacuzenos depicting Life-Giving Trinity(Paris National Library, cod. 1242).

And in conclusion - the solemn words that St. Theophan the Recluse said about the feast of Pentecost: “The economy has been completed (from the Greek οἰκονομία - arrangement of the house, business – ed.) our salvation! The actions of all the Persons of the Most Holy Trinity in this matter have now come into force. What God the Father pleased to be, what the Son of God fulfilled in Himself, the Holy Spirit has now descended to appropriate to the believers. For salvation is ours “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ”(1 Pet. 1:2).”

Trinity is great Orthodox holiday, symbolizing the fullness of God's grace, when the third Holy Hypostasis appeared to people - the Holy Spirit, is celebrated on June 16 in 2019.

Before His ascension, resurrected and staying with his chosen disciples, the Apostles, Jesus commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit descended on them, after which he ascended to heaven.

Biblical Description of Pentecost

This holiday was named Trinity in honor of the fullness of God, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with whom the Creator baptized the Apostles on the fiftieth day from the Resurrection of the Lord. Hence the second name of this holiday - Pentecost.

Holy Trinity

The Apostles and faithful followers of Jesus Christ were in prayer and daily communion, among whom were:

students;
women who accompanied the teacher during His earthly life;
Mother Mary;
His brothers.

The Teacher did not say when the Holy Spirit would appear, or how it would be, he only said that everyone should be waiting.

The history of the holiday in Orthodoxy

From this day on, every Sunday, 50 days or seven weeks after, the Apostles and the Christians around them celebrated the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. The celebrations of the Week ended with the baptism of those added to the Church.

Quintus Tertullian, an early Christian theologian, writer of more than 31 preserved treatises, wrote in 220-230 that the holiday of Trinity eclipsed all pagan rituals of that time.

The Trinity in Orthodoxy means the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Pentecost received official recognition by the Church in 381 during the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople, at which a dogma was approved recognizing the equality of all three hypostases of the Holy Trinity.

At the Council, the Symbol of the Christian Faith was adopted - I Believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Creed
I believe in God the Father, the Almighty Creator, who created heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, the Savior of people, who was born of the Virgin Mary at conception by the Holy Spirit, was tortured during the time of Pontius Pilate, died by crucifixion, was buried and resurrected after descending into hell, ascended to Heaven, sat down at the right hand of the Most High, so that with Him to judge people, living and dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, Holy Universal Church, eternal life through forgiveness and resurrection. Amen.

Amen translated means the statement “So be it!”

Also see:

The Symbol of Faith is read in churches and during home prayers from Trinity to Easter.

The difference between Trinity and other holidays

Easter services end with Pentecost, after which church calendar weeks are numbered weeks after Trinity.

The Monday after the Feast of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is called the Day of the Holy Spirit. From there until Easter, the Creed is read, and after the Resurrection of Jesus and until the day of Pentecost, during church and home prayers, the hymn is read: “Christ rose from the dead, through death he overcame death, he rose alive from the grave,” which is not sung after the Day of the Holy Spirit.

The Trinity service begins with a prayer; it is read before the beginning at the end of any holiday or activity, when the Holy Spirit is invoked as a reliable helper.

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, abiding everywhere and filling everything, Source of blessings and Giver of life, come and dwell in us and cleanse us from all sin and save, O Good One, our souls.

The Venerable John of Damascus and Cosmas of Maium compiled the festive canons back in the eighth century; they were set out in the First Complete Byzantine Rule for the conduct of services on Trinity.

For information! At the evening service there is no kissing of the icon; parishioners venerate the Gospel.

At the all-night vigil before the holiday, the canon of Pentecost is read. The Morning Liturgy is replaced by the Feast of the Holy Spirit, during which prayers are read while kneeling.

The festive stichera helps to understand the meaning of this action. The Jewish people, among whom God the Son was born, are deprived of God's grace through their unbelief. Christians all over the world, pagans in the flesh, are filled with Divine light. Kneeling, as a symbol of a bowed heart, with deep faith we worship the third Hypostasis of the Divine Trinity - God the Spirit.

Composed the first prayers:

The first petition is dedicated to confessing sins to the Creator and asking for mercy in the name of the Sacrifice given to people by Jesus Christ, God the Son.
The second prayer is an appeal for the gift of the Holy Spirit to all people.
The third appeal to Christ, the Mission, God, who descended into hell and took the keys of life from Satan, to have mercy on our deceased relatives.

During the holiday the Troparion is performed:

Blessed are you, Christ our God, who gave wisdom to the fishermen, making them Apostles, sent them the Holy Spirit and helped to acquire the whole world, glory to you, God the Lover of Mankind.

Traditions of decorating temples and houses on the day of Pentecost

By folk tradition On Trinity Sunday, churches and houses are decorated with greenery; people call this holiday green Christmastide.

Decorating the church with greenery for the holiday of Trinity as a symbol of the flowering of the Christian soul

On the one hand, this historical background. God appeared to Abraham in the form of three elders who were reclining under an oak tree.

On the fiftieth day after leaving Egypt, the Almighty, on the green Mount Sinai, gave the people 10 commandments, which are still the basis of Christianity.

According to custom, in honor of these events, all temples were decorated with greenery. The greenery on Pentecost symbolizes the flowering of the Christian soul, which was awakened by the Divine Spirit through the grace of God the Father and the Son.

Birch trees cut down on Trinity Day symbolize the power of grace. While the tree fed through its roots and grew in the ground, it lived, and as soon as it was cut down, it died. Yes and human soul lives while it feeds Divine power, and if a person leaves the Church, he immediately dies. Jesus is the Vine, and we are His branches, feeding on mercy, forgiveness through confession and communion.

For information! Next week for Happy Week modest, it ends with the Week of All Saints, after which Peter's fast begins.

The Almighty has shown himself to be triune in the Trinity, consubstantial and indivisible; you should not try to understand this dogma with your mind, or explain it with the human mind. Each Hypostasis of the Trinity has its own face, but these are not three Gods, but a single Divine essence.

Holy Trinity Day. Pentecost