We Celebrate Pentecost

The feast day of Pentecost is a Solemn, happy and a world-wide historic day. According to a hymn of our church, “we celebrate Pentecost and the Spirit’s sojourment”.

We celebrate the promised visit, the sojournment, the descent into the upper room, the outpouring onto the disciples and Apostles of Christ, of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.

This feast day marks the commencement of the establishment of the Mystical Body, the Church of Christ, the Kingdom of God on earth, and it is rightly called the birthday of the Church.

With the descent from Heaven of the Holy Spirit onto the Apostles, their official appointment and ordination occurs, and their sending off on the important, the salutary mission of salvation.

It is worthy for each Christian to note the beneficial results and effects of the descent of the Holy Spirit.

With the enlightening power of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles and every faithful and devoted Christian is enlightened and becomes wise. The Holy Spirit made the uneducated fishermen, all-wise vessels of the Spirit.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit, which rules the Church of Christ, enlightens and sanctifies every person coming into the world, and leads them to the knowledge of the Truth of God.

It helps a person to harmonise his life with the will of God. The Holy Spirit gives courage to the faithful, in order to face the sorrows, the hardships and the difficulties of life. It helps them to accept even the most difficult circumstances with courage, steadfastness and the hope-bringing patience.

Within this blessed state, with an incomparably educative way, the spiritual cultivation of every person is accomplished and spiritual upbringing and progress is obtained.

In this way, spiritual joy and happiness is found, which brings peace between ourselves and God.

Also, the Holy Spirit, with its life bearing power, burns away sin and purifies the lives of people. It gives its gifts richly to their souls and prepares them for Eternal and Everlasting Life.

In order for the faithful to taste the sweet fruits of the Holy Spirit, they must lay down their own will and their faith, asking with zeal for the descent and sojourment of the Holy.

Blessed are they who with consciousness and a fervour heart, pray and ask for the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth to come and reside within them, in order to guide, direct and sanctify their lives.

By the late Father Nicholas Moutafis 1931-2001