The Great and Holy Feast of Pentecost is this Sunday. This celebrates the Gift of the Holy Spirit to Christ's Disciples, 50 days after Holy Pascha. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. The Church is empowered by the Holy Spirit. He abides in His Church and in the hearts of His people, in degrees of fullness as we repent and open our hearts with faith and love, and receive Him sacramentally. We are then able to bear the Fruit of the Spirit in our hearts and lives: 'Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" Gal. 5:22.

On Pentecost Sunday, the disciples become Apostles and are then sent out to various lands to witness about Christ and the Salvation that He gives us, who believe and are joined to Him. All nations and ethnic groups are loved by our Lord and become members of His Body, the Church. Many people were added to the Church on the Day of Pentecost, and have been added to this very day.

In the Old Covenant, Pentecost was a Feast of the First Fruits being harvested and the gift of the Law of God to God's people after being delivered from slavery in Egypt. Both themes are foreshadows of the Fulfillment of the Feast in the New Covenant.

The theme of Harvest - is seen in the final Old Covenant feast of the in-gathering in the fall of the year, labor is finished and joyous rest felt. In the New Covenant, we look for that Final Day of the Lord - the Second Coming of Christ, the Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Paradise with the Lord. Revelation 21 speaks of this Day: "Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

Our dark world is seen by us vividly in these troubled times of virus crisis, racism and killing, violent reactions to injustice by hurting or killing others, and some government leaders who greatly disappoint us. All of this is symbolized in the "King Cosmos" wearing a crown in the bottom of the Pentecost icon that needs this Healing, Divine Light, Living Water. The scrolls held by Cosmos represent the Saving Gospel that the Twelve Apostles and His Church bring to the dark world. Inside Christ's Holy Church, we rejoice already in the first fruits of the Harvest with the Great Feast of Pentecost and the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

Enjoy a video of how the joyous Feast of Pentecost is celebrated at St Elisabeth Orthodox Christian Convent, Minsk, Belarus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UayBSJT13V0&feature=youtu.be

At St. Luke's, the 9a Sunday Divine Liturgy will be live streamed on YouTube. A very limited number of attendees, who registered for this Service, will be present.

Sunday 11a Pentecost Kneeling Vespers will be offered for a limited number.

In our parish, Pentecost is especially joyous for us. 10 years ago we opened the door to our new temple for the first Divine Service. Enjoy seeing a short video of this:

https://vimeo.com/16418659

We are thankful for the parishioners praying with us and joyfully celebrating with us wherever they may do so this weekend. Happy Feast!

The week following Pentecost is fast-free.