Eastern Christianity celebrates Pentecost
fifty days after Easter. This feast commemorates the descent of the
Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the followers of Jesus Christ.
Pentecost
is one of the twelve Orthodox Great Feasts, second in rank only to
Easter. The feast is celebrates with an All-night vigil, that begins on
the eve of the feast. The Divine Liturgy is held on the day of Pentecost
itself.
The feast of Pentecost lasts for three days: Trinity Sunday, Spirit
Monday and the Third Day of the Trinity (Tuesday). During the feast the
Orthodox churches are decorated with greenery and flowers, and green is
chosen as the liturgical color. The clergy holds greenery and flowers in
hands during the services and decorates homes with green branches of
trees and flowers.
The clergy observes an extraordinary service Kneeling Prayer on the
night of Pentecost. During the service everyone touches their forehead
to the floor. Such prayer is forbidden in the churches from the day of Pascha to Pentecost.
Pentecost is a public holiday in Christian countries. Since it's
always falls on Sunday, the next Monday after Pentecost is a day off.
Немає коментарів:
Дописати коментар