Icon in St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Pittston on the apse wall of the sanctuary.  Copyright. Iconography by Rev. Theodore Koufos, Icongraphic Studio of Toronto, Canada

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

Titles and Symbols of the Holy Spirit

Divine revealation about the Holy Spirit is given to us throughout biblical history in Scripture.  The Holy Spirit is manifest in many forms.  These are some of the ways  through which the actions of the Holy Spirit are manifest:  water, breath, wind, anointing, fire, sacramental seals, cloud and light, the hand, a finger, a dove.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides an excellent description of how these manifestations of the Holy Spirit is found in Scripture.  Visit the link from the Vatican website to access this complete description.

Pentecost

Pentecost is a major Feast Day 

Did you know that the Liturgical color for Pentecost in Eastern Churches is green?  And this is the only time in the Eastern liturgical calendar this color is used.  Green represents life.  The predominant emphasis and the divine action of the Holy Spirit is as the Giver of Life.  We affirm this belief every time we recite the Nicene Creed.

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 at the same time.   The Eastern Churches have retained this ancient tradtion. 

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.