What is Pentecost, Why it is Celebrated? The Christian holy day of Pentecost, which is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter, celebrates and remembers the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles as well as other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem rejoicing the Feast of Weeks, as documented in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1–31). In Christian tradition, this event signifies the birth of the initial Church.
What is Pentecost?
In Eastern Christianity, Pentecost can also refer to the complete fifty days of Easter through Pentecost wide-ranging; therefore the book covering the liturgical texts is termed the “Pentecostarion”. In the meantime its date is being determined by on the date of Easter, Pentecost is a moveable feast.
Who Celebrates Pentecost?
Pentecost is observed by Roman Catholics, Eastern Catholics, Old Catholics, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglicans, and other Christians
When is Pentecost This Year?
This year in 20919, Pentecost is going to be observed on June 9 (Western) as well as on June 16 (Eastern).
Significance of Pentecost
The day celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus. This holy day is also known as “White Sunday” or “Whitsunday”, particularly in the United Kingdom, where traditionally the next day, Whit Monday, was also a public holiday. While on the other hand, in Germany Pentecost is called “Pfingsten” and often happen together with scholastic holidays as well as the commencement of many outdoor and springtime undertakings, such as festivals and organized outdoor activities by youth establishments. In many European nations, the Monday after Pentecost is a legal holiday.
Pentecost Celebrations And Observances
The Holy Day is celebrated with religious (church) services, festive meals, processions, baptism, confirmation, ordination, folk customs, dancing, spring & woodland rites as well as festive clothing.
On this day various religious practices are observed such as Prayer, vigils, fasting (pre-festival), novenas, retreats, Holy Communion as well as a litany.
Bible Verses about Pentecost
2 Chronicles 8:13
and did so according to the daily rule, offering them up according to the commandment of Moses, for the sabbaths, the new moons and the three annual feasts–the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths.
Deuteronomy 16:9-10
“You shall count seven weeks for yourself; you shall begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. “Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, which you shall give just as the LORD your God blesses you;
Exodus 23:16
“Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field.
Exodus 34:22
“You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.
Joel 2:28-32
“It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind, And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. “Even on the male and female servants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. “I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
“The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of LORD Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the LORD has said, Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
Deuteronomy 16:16-17
“Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed. “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
Acts 20:16
For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.