This year, Orthodox Pentecost is celebrated on June 4th, the seventh Sunday after Easter. As a significant Christian holiday, Orthodox Pentecost has been commemorated with fervour for centuries. Because the Orthodox and Western churches calculate Easter differently, the Orthodox church will have a different date than the Western church. From Easter Sunday through Pentecost Sunday, it is customary for Orthodox Christians to desist from kneeling during church services. Pentecost commemorates the advent of the Holy Spirit.
The background of Orthodox Pentecost Sunday
Orthodox Pentecost Sunday marks the conclusion of the 92-day Easter cycle that began on the Orthodox holiday known as Shrove Monday. Christians observe Pentecost Sunday to commemorate the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in the form of fire, as described in Acts 2:3 of the ‘New Testament.’
The origins of Pentecost can be traced back to Shavuot, a Jewish harvest festival. The apostles were savouring this celebration when the Holy Spirit descended upon them. It sounded like a very strong wind, and it appeared to be flames erupting from the earth. The Holy Spirit granted the apostles the ability to speak in other languages, and they promptly began preaching the word of Jesus to the Jews who had travelled to Jerusalem for the Pentecost festival. At first, those who passed by assumed that the apostles were intoxicated. The Apostle Peter, however, informed the crowd that the apostles were brimming with the Holy Spirit. Numerous Christians consider today to be the day the Church was founded.
The following Monday is known as Pentecost Monday and is a public holiday in a number of Eastern European nations. In the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition, ‘Pentecost’ can refer to both the day and the fifty-day period commencing fifty days before Easter and ending on Pentecost.
5 Interesting Pentacostal Facts
The crimson and gold icon of Pentecost, known as the “Descent of the Holy Spirit,” signifies a significant event.
On the day of the feast, the liturgy is performed, but it is preceded by the evening service known as Great Vespers and the morning service known as Matins.
One of the three Persons of the Trinity, the all-holy, life-giving, all-powerful Spirit is honoured in the Divine Liturgy on the Monday following the feast.
Kneeling is ordinarily suspended during the Easter service, but there is a special kneeling prayer during the Vespers service on the day of the feast.
The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom is performed on the Sunday that falls fifty days after the celebration of Easter in order to commemorate this very significant feast.
ORTHODOX PENTECOST SUNDAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | June 12 | Sunday |
| 2023 | June 4 | Sunday |
| 2024 | June 23 | Sunday |
| 2025 | June 8 | Sunday |
| 2026 | May 31 | Sunday |
