Holy Spirit in stained glass, St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Swoyersville, Pa. (Baut Studios, 1974)  Image may not be reproduced, copied or used in any publication. 

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth

You are everywhere present and fill all things.

Treasury of blessings and Giver of Life,

Come and dwell within in us,

Cleanse us of all stain,

And save our souls O Gracious One.

“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.  Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”   Acts 2: 1-4  ¹ , ²

PENTECOST a major Feast Day in Catholic and Orthodox churches.

The Liturgical color for Pentecost in Eastern Churches is always green.  This is the only time in the entire liturgical calendar this color is used.  Green represents life and the predominant emphasis and the Divine power of the Holy Spirit is as the Giver of Life.   Life is granted to believers through the Sacraments.  In Scripture, Jesus Christ speaks of “living water” and “real food” in reference to the the Sacraments that are necessary to gain life eternal in the Kingdom of God.  The Sacraments of Initiation in the Byzantine Catholic Church are Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Eucharist.   Infants and adults being received into Eastern Churches receive all three Sacraments together.   This was the traditional rite of Initiation in the early Church which Eastern Churches have retained.  On Pentecost Sunday, the faithful sing a baptismal verse: “All you have been baptized into Christ, have been clothed in Christ.”

¹ Scriptural Quote credit: Scripture texts on this website are from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. All Rights Reserved. ¹

²According to Scripture, the following were present in the upper room in Jerusalem:  Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon, Jude (Judas) son of James; also some women (most likely the same women who accompanied Christ at the cross), and Mary the Mother of God; and other disciples.