JUNE 19, 2016

EPISTLE: Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 (#3)GOSPEL: St. John 7:37-52; 8:12 (#27)TONE: 7

St. Innocent Orthodox ChurchZ Founded in 1967 Z Moscow Patriarchal Parishes Z

23300 W. Chicago _ Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-538-1142 _ Fax: 313-538-8126Church Website: www.stinnocentchurch.com _ E-Mail: frroman@firebirdvideos.com

St. Innocent Monastic Community: 9452 Hazelton, Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-535-9080PASTOR: Rt. Rev. Mitered Archpriest ROMAN STAR _ Cell: 313-319-0590

Dean, Central States Deanery, Patriarchal ParishesASSISTANT PRIEST: Rev. DANEIL SHIRAK _ 313-295-3073

DEACON: Rev. Dn. Michael ComerfordSUBDEACON: Dr. Joshua Genig

ATTACHED: Sister IoannaCHOIR DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Star Hatfield

READERS: Robert Joseph Latsko & George Hanoian

SCHEDULE FOR THE COMING WEEK (No Fasting this week — Spirit Week)

Friday 6/24 10am DIVINE LITURGY for the Feast of the NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE FORERUNNER/BAPTIST

Saturday 6/25 4pm GREAT VESPERS FOR PENTECOST & CONFESSIONS

Sunday 6/26 All Saints Day; 1st Sunday After Pentecost

9:15am Hours & Canon/Akathist & Confessions

10am DIVINE LITURGY; Followed by Coffee Hour

SCHEDULE FOR THE COMING WEEK (No Fasting this week — Spirit Week)

Friday 6/24 10am DIVINE LITURGY for the Feast of the NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE FORERUNNER/BAPTIST

Saturday 6/25 4pm GREAT VESPERS FOR PENTECOST & CONFESSIONS

Sunday 6/26 All Saints Day; 1st Sunday After Pentecost

9:15am Hours & Canon/Akathist & Confessions

10am DIVINE LITURGY; Followed by Coffee Hour

FOR THE REPOSE OF: Estelle & Joseph Star; Anna & John Witkowski; Michael Sr. & Margaret Rusko; Mary, Andrew, Daniel,Michael & Lottie Yakuber; Ross & Margaret Falsetti; Helen, John & Carole Andrayko; Peter & Theresa Harvilla; Betty Martell; Frances& Todd Smoly; Peter Glover; Irene Adams; Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua deVyver, David Horka; Michael Rusko; Anna Lichagina,Yelena & Zinaïda Korniyevskaya; Joseph Nossal; Michelle Tucker; Todd Comerford. MEMORY Margaret Kupec, whose anniversary of her repose is Today, Sunday 19 June (?) (by niece, Mat. Rose Marie & family)

ETERNAL! Mary Kupec, whose anniversary of her repose is Today, Sunday 19 June (by granddaughter, Mat. Rose Marie & Fr. Roman)

Mitchell Shirak, whose anniversary of his repose is Today, Sunday 19 June Joseph Nossal, whose anniversary of his repose is Thursday 23 June Pearl Glover, whose anniversary of her repose is Saturday 25 June All our departed fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers & godfathers

FOR THE HEALTH OF: Archimandrite Seraphim; Priest Daneil, Matushka Debra & Corrina Shirak; Deacon Michael, Matushka MaryEllen & Julius Comerford; Matushka Mary Donahue; Subdeacon Joshua & Abigail Genig; Reader Robert Latsko, Reader George & BettyHanoian, Rose Nossal, Mary Glover, Nancy Cupp, Vasiliki Stamoulis, Gerald Martell, Azbehat, Donald Yakuber, Carl deVyver, Jo AnneNicholas, Joan Rusko, Daria, Joseph Nossal, Ed Manier, Martha Genig; Jennifer (Madias)& sick unborn child; Marianna Wess & unborn child.ALSO FOR: Iskias Naizghi, who celebrates his birthday Tomorrow, Monday, 20 June (Spirit Day)

Kflom Iskias, who celebrates his birthday on Thursday, 23 June All our living fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers & godfathers Fr. Roman, the Spiritual Father of our parish

� MAY GOD GRANT THEM MANY YEARS! �

COMMEMORATED TODAY: HOLY PENTECOST: FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY. Holy Apostle Jude, the brother of the Lord (ca. 80).Ven. Barlaam of Shenkursk (1462). Martyr Zosimas the soldier at Antioch in Pisidia (2nd c.). Ven. Paisius the Great (5th c.). St. John the Solitaryof Jerusalem (6th c.). Ven. Paisius of Chilandari (Bulgarian—18th c.). Repose of St. Job, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus (1607)

_ 9:15AM — HOURS & AKATHIST &/or CANON; CONFESSIONS __ 10am — DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM + KNEELING VESPERS _

Z FEAST OF HOLY PENTECOST Z HOLY TRINITY (TROITSE) Z

Z CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! Z HE IS NOW & ALWAYS SHALL BE! Z

CANDLES FOR LAST SUNDAY, 12 JUNEYEARLY CHURCH VIGIL LAMPS:Royal Doors Lamp: In Memory of Husband, Joseph; Son, Kenneth; parents, Michael & Margaret Rusko, & John & Martha Nossal, by Rose NossalAltar Candelabra: In Memory of Parents, Nicholas and Susan Yakuber, by son, Donald Yakuber Altar Candles (2): In Memory of Irene Adams, by Goddaughter, Rose Ann EverhardtIconostasis Lamps: In Memory of Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; Robert David H; & Health of brother, Carl, by Sister IoannaCandles on the Solea: In Memory of Peter & Theresa Harvilla, Norman & Monica Holst, & Ricky Ellis, by Jason & Debra Truskowski Table of Oblation Lamp: In Memory of Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, Sr. & sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko, Jr.

Reliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Innocent, Tikhon & Herman: Health of Joseph/Sue; Robert/Diane; Pat/John; Joseph B., Jared, Jay; Rachelle/Aaron, Gabriel; Tricia, Lindsey; & In Memory of sisters, Anna, Margaret, Theresa & Irene; & brothers, John, Edwin & Michael by Rose NossalReliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Elizabeth & Raphael: Health of the Genig and the Just Families, by Subdeacon Joshua & Abigail GenigReliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Seraphim & St. Alexis: In Memory of Ross & Margaret Falsetti, by daughters, Rose Ann Everhardt & Margie MartellReliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Hilarion & Sts. Alexandra & Martha (AVAILABLE)Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Nestor & St. Gerontius (AVAILABLE)

IN MEMORY OF (MEMORY ETERNAL!)Joseph & Estelle Star, by son Father Roman and familyPaul & Alexandra Yupco, Basil & Ellen Starinshak, by grandson, Father Roman and familyJohn & Anna Witkowski, by daughter, Matushka Rose Marie and familySamuel & Mary Kupec, by granddaughter, Matushka Rose Marie and familyParents, Helen & John Andrayko, and sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko My husband, Joe; my sisters, Margaret & Ross Falsetti, Anna & Mike Elaschat, Theresa & Pete Harvilla, Irene, & brothers, Michael, John & Edwin Rusko; niece, Rose Mary & Dean Hough; Joe’s brothers, Raymond & Walter Nossal, & sisters, Theresa, Florence & Helen Nossal, by Rose Nossal ++ + Pete & Theresa Harvilla, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Truskowski + + + My husband, Michael Rusko, by Joan Rusko Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; David H; Nina I; Marion P; Fr. Photius; Mo. Benedicta; Archm. Roman; Olive, by Sister Ioanna Ross & Marge Falsetti, by Margie Martell + + + Mrs. Anna Hanoian (Birthday), by Rdr. George & BettyChild Lana Wilson, Shirley Troyer, Marsha Olsen, Betty Stelmaszek, Paul Stelmaszek, by Becky Jurczyszyn Thelma Ratcliff, Louis Pitts, Gloria Robinson, Reginald Bell, Lessie Favor, Lois Hamby, by Manier Family + + + Agatha & Vitaly’s Families

FOR THE HEALTH OF: (MANY YEARS!)Elizabeth & Lawrence, Caitlin & Zachary, by parents & grandparents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie Gregory & Tamiko Star, by parents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose MarieChildren, Grandchildren & Great-grandchildren; Monk Fr. Sdn. Tikhon (Dade); by Rose NossalFather Roman & Matushka & family; Sister Ioanna; John Andrayko; Nancy; Mary G; Jo Anne N; Grandson Joey (in the Navy Reserves) & all people in the Armed Forces; & all the people of St. Innocent Church, by Rose Nossal My Mom, Jaime Truskowski, by Kay Truskowski + + + Family & Friends, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay T. Brother, Greg & Donna; nephew, Gregory & Liz; & nephew, Alex, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay + + + Ed Manier, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Archimandrites Nafanail, Gregory & Seraphim; Fr. Roman & Mat. Rose Marie; Fr. Lawrence & fam; Fr. Laurence & fam; Fr. Daneil & fam; Dcn. Michael & fam; Mat. Mary D; Carl; Sdn Fr. Tikhon; Sdn Andrew; Sdn Joshua, Abigail & children; Rdr Robert; Robert M; David Samuel, Sky & Avi; Jo Anne/Nick; Athanasius; John A; Ed/Tiffany; Kim & fam; Vasiliki; Rose; Emil; Billy/Fonda; Donald Y; Marianna & unborn baby, by Sr Ioanna + + + John Andrayko (May God watch over him), by Rose Nossal + + + Rose Nossal, by John Andrayko Leia, Mike Reece & Baby Wilson; Joan & Bob Jurczynszyn; Paul, Pete, Jacob, Claire, Matt & Krista Stelmaszek; Levi Troyer, Damon & Bri; Toni & Richard Bussen; Liz Tomachewski & Andrea Faust, by Becky Jurczyszyn + + + Manier children & grandchildren & all Manier family, by Ed & Tiffany + + + Jennifer Kelley (breast cancer); Donna Williams (MS); Brittany Truitt (personal issues), by Manier family; Salvation of: Brittany Truitt, Edward Manier Jr., Rebecca Manier, Bronte Manier, Breanna Manier, by Tiffany & Ed + + + Pavel & Family Sdn. Joshua Genig, by Genig Family + + + Brenda & Scott Beiring (Anniversary), by Marge Martell + + + Vasiliki (surgery, 6/7), by Sr. Ioanna

PROSPHORA FOR TODAY IS OFFERED BY: John Andrayko

In Memory Eternal of: sister, Carole Andrayko (6/5); parents, Helen (10/24) & John Andrayko, Sr. (1/28); and all other departed family, friends& loved ones; and For the Health of: John Andrayko, Fr. Roman & Matushka Rose Marie; Rose Nossal; Fr. Daneil & all parishioners.

ANNOUNCEMENTS1) COCC DRAWING FOR TIGERS GAME SUITE, 20 TICKETS, BUFFET & MORE. Please help the COCC finance its DOOR weeklyRadio Hour and other educational and charitable work by buying a ticket for the Tigers game suite raffle. With a maximum of 150 tickets sold,the odds of winning are very high. $100 per ticket. Consider buying a “group” ticket with 2, 4 or 5 people to split the cost. Tigers vs. HoustonAstros, Sat. July 30th, 7pm. (Abigail & Sdn. Josh Genig went 2 years ago thru a winning ticket at their former church; so it’s possible to have thewinning ticket. Fr. Roman for tickets. Flyer & Details at: http://coccdetroit.com/files/Flyers/cocc/2016/COCC-TigersSuiteRaffle2016.pdf

2) We have 2 articles on our church website about Pentecost/Holy Trinity Sunday that are recommended for you to read. First is the veryexcellent “Understanding the Holy Trinity,” written by our Reader Bob Latsko, at: http://stinnocentchurch.com/understandingtheholytrinity.html The second article is a Mediation on the Pentecost hymn, “O Heavenly King:” http://stinnocentchurch.com/oheavenlyking.html

3) KITCHEN & COFFEE HOUR NEEDS: Cases of bottled spring water (8 oz.), individual drinks for children, napkins, knives, forks & spoons.

4) LISTEN EVERY SUNDAY TO THE COCC’S DETROIT’S OWN ORTHODOX RADIO HOUR [DOOR] ON WNZK 690-AM, 4-5 pm, or on your computer/smart-phone, live, at http://www.doorradio.org. This website also has an archive of all its previous programs. Excellent!

THE FEAST OF PENTECOSTBy Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh

A Sermon delivered on July 15, 1985

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Church of God is not an institution, it is a miracle and it is a mystery. It is a miraclebecause how could we expect that closeness of God which is revealed to us in the Church.And it is also a mystery in the original sense of the world, something which cannot beeither explained or conveyed in words, something that can be known only through aspellbound communion with God. The English word “God” comes from a Germanic rootthat means “him, before whom one prostrates in adoration.” This is where our knowledgeof God begins — the sense of the Divine Presence that forces us down to our knees,spellbound, silent, not with an empty silence that is ours at times but with a silence whichis nothing but intent worshipful listening, listening to the presence, listening to thatpresence which is at the core of the silence. And He Who speaks to us within this silenceis the Holy Spirit, who unveils before our minds and hearts what the words spoken byGod, revealed to us in the Gospel truly convey. It is only under the guidance of the HolySpirit that we can both believe and understand what Christ spoke because words inthemselves are always equivocal, they may be clear or obscure, they may be made to meanwhat they never meant. And this is the role of the

Holy Spirit — to make us understand God’s word as it was born in the divine silenceand unfolded before us in words which we could understand. But these words are nota prison, they are an open door as Christ is the door leading to the Father and leadingto eternal life. It is the Holy Spirit who according to the promise of our Lord unveilsfor us the meaning of the Scriptures, it is not scholarship, it is worship and a worshipthat allows us to commune with the mind of God and the heart of God. The Spirit oftruth, but also Him whom the Scripture calls the Paraclete, a complex word as are somany of the words of ancient languages. It means “the Comforter”, He Who givesconsolation. It means ‘Comforter’ in the sense that He gives us strength, it means also“He, who brings joy”. And these three meanings are important but He can be to us theComforter in these various ways only if we are in need of His comfort.

What kind of consolation do we need? Most of us feel perfectly comfortable in ourlives and indeed in our worship and our spiritual life, and who of us is in a position tosay with all the intensity and depth with which St. Paul spoke these words, “For me lifeis Christ, death would be a gain because as long as I live in the body, I am separatedfrom Christ”? Can we honestly say that for us life is Christ, that all that He stands foris life-giving, all that is contrary to Him, to us is death? Can we say that we have died with Christ to everything which isalien to God? Can we say that we are alive only when the things of God come our way — prayer, deep meditation, the kindof understanding which the Spirit of God reveals to us? And so we must ask ourselves very sternly a first question: is Christmy life or not? Would it be enough for me to feel that life is fulfilled, complete to be at one with Christ in all things or doI feel that there are so many things which I love and which I am not prepared to let go off even to be with Christ?

And again, Christ is in the midst of us invisibly, mysteriously. Yes, but He is not with us inthe way in which He was with the Apostles. We cannot say with St. John that we speak ofwhat we have seen, what we have heard, what our hands have touched. We know Christ inthe spirit, no longer in the flesh, and yet Christ rose in the flesh, Christ ascended and isseated at the right hand of the Father in His body glorified. Paul longed to be with Him inthis companionship full of veneration, of reverence, of love. He wanted to be at one withHim without anything separating from Him. “Who shall make me free of this body ofcorruption?” — of this body against which my thoughts and my prayers and my bestinclinations, and my most passionate impulses for good break down? Can we say that? Isdeath what we expect longingly because it will unite us to Christ? Or are we still pagan atheart and do we wish to flee from death? And instead of saying, “Lord, Jesus, come andcome soon!” aren’t we prepared to say, “Tarry, o Lord, tarry, give me time,” in the way in

which Augustine prayed to the Lord after his conversion, “Lord, give me chastity but not just now.” Isn’t it that ourcondition — not concerning chastity alone but everything in life: not just now, O Lord, the time will come when all myenergies will be spent, when age will have come and made life much less attractive or unpalatable — then take me. No, thisis not it. And so when we think of the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, as one who consoles us from the absence of Christ bymaking us to commune with the essence of things, where do we stand? Is He our Comforter while we need no comfort?

And again, in our ministry how often do we feel that we are totally, ultimately helpless, that what we are called to do issimply beyond human possibilities? In the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration in the Orthodox Church, when the priestis vested, when he has prepared the Holy Gifts, when he is about to give the first liturgical exclamation, when in his naivetyhe may think, “Now I will perform miracles on earth,” the deacon turns to him and says, “And now, father, it is time forGod to act.” All you could do, you have done, you have prayed and preparedyourself, made yourself open to God, you have vested yourself and becomean image — but only an image, not the thing. You have prepared the breadand the wine and now what is expected of you is something which youcannot do, you cannot by any power including Apostolic Succession makethis bread into the Body of Christ, this wine into the Blood of Christ, youhave no power over God and you have no power over the created world. Itis only Christ who is the only celebrant because He is the High Priest of allcreation, who, by sending the Holy Spirit can break through into time, openit up so that eternity can flow, indeed, make eruption into it and within thiseschatological situation in which eternity fills time, make possible theimpossible, make bread into the Body of Christ crucified and risen, the wineinto the Blood of Christ crucified and risen.

And all our function depends only on the Holy Spirit. Strength? St. Paul hoped for strength, he prayed for it and the Lordanswered him, “My grace suffices unto thee, My strength is made manifest in weakness.” And Paul rejoices in hisweakness, so, he says, that all should be the power of God. Not the weakness of our slackness, of our laziness, of ourtimidity, of our cowardice, of our forgetfulness, no, not that weakness but the frailty recognized, which is given to God,the surrender of ourselves.

If I may use an image, it is that of the sail of a sailing ship. Of all the parts of the ship the sail is the frailest, the weakestand yet filled with the wind, and the word “wind” in ancient languages is the same as “spirit” “ruah”, “ðíåõìá” it can carrythe heavy structure of the ship to its haven. This is the kind of weakness, of frailty which we have got to offer to God, suchfrailty that He can use it freely, without resistance, and then our strength will be stronger than anything which the createdworld can possess. The martyrs were frail, as frail as we are, but they abandoned themselves to God and they lived and diedin the power of the Spirit. We need that strength.

And then the Paraclete is the one that gives joy, the joy of entering already now into eternity,the joy of being joined to Christ in the Communion of the One Body, the joy of giving our livesfor Him and if necessary — our death, a joy which the world cannot give, but which the worldcannot take away.

I will end on one example of this joy of the Spirit. I met a few years ago in Russia an elderlypriest who had spent 36 years in prisons and concentration camps. He sat opposite me witheyes shining with joy and gratitude and he said, “Do you realize, can you imagine, howinfinitely good God had been to me? The Soviet authorities did not allow a priest either intoprisons or into camps; and He chooses me, a young, inexperienced priest and sends me first toprison and then to camp to look after His lost sheep.” There was nothing in him but gratitudeand joy. And that joy, that kind of gratitude against the history of his life was truly anoutpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Let us therefore in all our life, whether we pray, listen to the unutterable groanings of the Spirit within us, teaching usultimately to call the God of Heaven our Father if we are in Jesus Christ, in the words of Irenaeus of Lyon, sons of God inthe Only-Begotten Son of God. Let us open ourselves and listen intently when we have got to preach, so that it should notbe a work of our intellect or learning, but a sharing of something which we have learned from God. However poor,childlike, simple it may seem, let it be God’s. And when we come to the celebration of the Holy Mysteries, let us rememberthat we stand where no one can stand but the High Priest of all creation, the Lord Jesus Christ and let us turn to the HolySpirit calling Him to make the bread and the wine into the Body and Blood of Christ in an act Divine which we can onlymediate by faith and in obedience to Christ’s own command. Amen.

ON THE HOLY SPIRIT BY 3 HOLY FATHERS

(1) By St. Philaret of MoscowThe Holy Spirit is an immaterial fire: the light of faith, the warmth of love, thetongues of fire that speak in the heart of God’s Law… He awakens us from theworld’s charms, leads us to hope in God, and encourages us toward repentance.If we do not prevent His action, He directs us along the narrow path of self-denial… Grace transforms everything it touches into apriceless treasure… But others do not wait, they do notask for the gifts of the Holy Spirit; they remain in theirheedless idleness, content with ordinary worldlyuprightness, outwardly fulfilling their Christian

obligations… This is all pharisaical… Only God can create a clean heart in us, and weneed to be born from above in order to see the Kingdom of Heaven (Jn. 3:3)… Fornow, God preserves His Church’s existence, and the Holy Spirit still abides in it…Just as at the creation of the world He moved across the waters, so also now, Hemoves across the abyss of our shattered nature… We shall give ourselves over to thealmighty operation of the Holy Spirit and call out to Him from the depth of our fallennature: O Heavenly King!..

(2) By St. Theophan the Recluse

We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit… Could it be that there was no Spirit in us?No, there was not: For the Holy Ghost was not yet given (Jn. 7:39). And a new spirit willI put within you (Ez. 36:26); God breathes a new spirit of life into man… The apostleswere the first vessels of the Holy Spirit… As life in plants freezes from the winter cold,so does man’s spirit freeze when he is given over to sin… There is a sprout of life in aseed, and life is also in plants that have frozen over the winter. But if the Lord does notsend the spirit of spring, the seed and the plant do not grow, and the face of the earth isnot renewed (cf. Ps. 103, 30)… Repentance opens the door to the operation of the Spiritof God, but a lack of repentance locks that door…

And then the soul enlivened and cleansed by the Holy Spirit shines with the Trinitarianunity… We cannot fathom how this wondrous work of goodwill takes place, but the Word of God is true… Hereis the path by which the Spirit of God leads to perfection those who receive Him … The beginning of it all isrepentance, the middle of this work and ascetic struggle is cleansing of the heart from passions and its saturationwith virtues, and the end is the holy mystery of communion with God… Where there is no communion withGod, there is no Spirit… For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his fleshshall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Gal.6:7-8).

(3) BY ST. LUKE (VOINO-YASNETSKY ) OF SIMFEROPLWhen the Most High came down and confused the tongues, He divided the nations(kontakion of Pentecost)… The Lord confused the languages of those nations that werebuilding the Tower of Babel… People had conceived the plan of reaching the heavensthrough this building… They wanted to be comparable to God in power, to elevatethemselves… The Lord defeated this plan, for pride lay at the foundation of it… When onthe day of Pentecost He divided the tongues of fire over the heads of the apostles, the entireChristian world was called to unity… To what unity does the Lord call us? To the unity offaith, of truth, of sanctity, and to the highest form of unity—unity in Love.

From: pravoslavie.ru

PENTECOST: THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRITBy Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko

In the Old Testament, Pentecost was the feast which occurred fifty days after Passover. As the Passover feast celebrated the exodus of theIsraelites from the slavery of Egypt, so Pentecost celebrated God’s gift of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.

In the New Covenant of the Messiah, the Passover event takes on its new meaning as the celebration of Christ’s death andresurrection, the “exodus” of men from this sinful world to the Kingdom of God. And in the New Testament as well, the Pentecostal feastis fulfilled and made new by the coming of the “new law,” the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ.

When the day of Pentecost had come they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like therush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire,distributed as resting upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…(Acts 2:1-4).

The Holy Spirit that Christ had promised to his disciples came on the day of Pentecost (Jn 14:26,15:26; Lk 24:49; Acts 1:5). The Apostles received “the power from on high,” and they began to preachand bear witness to Jesus as the risen Christ, the King and the Lord. This moment has traditionally beencalled the birthday of the Church.In the liturgical services of the Feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit is celebrated togetherwith the full revelation of the Divine Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Godheadis manifested with the Spirit’s coming to man, and the Church hymns celebrate this manifestation as the

final act of God’s self-disclosure and self-donation to the world of His creation. For this reason Pentecost Sunday is alsocalled Trinity Day in the Orthodox tradition. Often on this day the icon of the Holy Trinity — particularly that of the threeangelic figures who appeared to Abraham, the forefather of the Christian faith — is placed in the center of the church. Thisicon is used with the traditional Pentecostal icon which shows the tongues of fire hovering over Mary and the TwelveApostles, the original prototype of the Church, who are themselves sitting in unity surrounding a symbolic image of “cosmos,”the world.

On Pentecost we have the final fulfillment of the mission of Jesus Christ and the first beginning of the Messianic Age of the Kingdom of God mystically present in this world in the Church of the Messiah. For this reason the fiftieth day standsas the beginning of the era which is beyond the limitations of this world, fifty being that number which stands for eternal andheavenly fulfillment in Jewish and Christian mystical piety: seven times seven, plus one.

Thus, Pentecost is called an apocalyptic day, which means the day of final revelation. It is also called an eschato- logical day, which means the day of the final and perfect end (in Greek eschaton means the end). For when the Messiah comesand the Lord’s Day is at hand, the “last days” are inaugurated in which “God declares: ...I will pour out my Spirit upon allflesh.” This is the ancient prophecy to which the Apostle Peter refers in the first sermon of the Christian Church, which waspreached on the first Sunday of Pentecost (Acts 2:17; Joel 2:28-32).

Once again it must be noted that the feast of Pentecost is not simply the celebration of an event which took place centuries ago. It is the celebration of what must happen and does happen to us in the Church today. We all have died and risenwith the Messiah-King, and we all have received his Most Holy Spirit. We are the “temples of the Holy Spirit.” God’s Spiritdwells in us (Rom 8; 1 Cor 2-3, 12; 2 Cor 3; Gal 5; Eph 2-3). We, by our own membership in the Church, have received “theseal of the gift of the Holy Spirit” in the sacrament of Chrismation. Pentecost has happened to us.

The Divine Liturgy of Pentecost recalls our baptism into Christ with the verse from Galatians again replacing the Thrice-Holy Hymn. Special verses from the psalms also replace the usual antiphonal Psalms of the Liturgy. The Epistle andGospel readings tell of the Spirit’s coming to men. The Kontakion sings of the reversal of Babel as God unites the nationsinto the unity of His Spirit. The Troparion proclaims the gathering of the whole universe into God’s net through the work ofthe inspired Apostles. The hymns “O Heavenly King” and “We have seen the True Light” are sung for the first time sincePascha, calling the Holy Spirit to “come and abide in us”, and proclaiming that “we have received the heavenly Spirit.” The churchbuilding is decorated with flowers and the green leaves of the summer to show that God’s divine Breath comes to renew allcreation as the “Life-Creating Spirit.” In Hebrew, the word for Spirit, breath and wind is the same word, ruah.

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise by sending down upon them the

Holy Spirit: through them Thou didst draw the world into Thy net. O Lover of Man, Glory to Thee! (Troparion)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! (Kontakion)The Great Vespers of Pentecost evening features three long prayers at which the faithful kneel for the first time since

Pascha. The Monday after Pentecost is the Feast of the Holy Spirit in the Orthodox Church, and the Sunday after Pentecostis the Feast of All Saints. This is the logical liturgical sequence, since the coming of the Holy Spirit is fulfilled in men by theirbecoming saints, and this is the very purpose of the creation and salvation of the world.