“Blessed art You O Christ Our God. You have revealed the fishermen as most wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. Through them You drew the world into Your net. O Lover of Man, Glory to You!” -Troparion of Holy Pentecost
Today is the Feast of Pentecost which comes 50 days after Pascha. It was on this day God gave humanity the gift of the Spirit, the pledge of a new Promised land, God’s coming kingdom. The Risen Christ after his resurrection and at the Ascension told his followers to wait in Jerusalem for in a few days they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit for, “You will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:4-5,8)
Today is the Feast of the Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit: One God in Three Persons, existing eternally and working together for the salvation of the world.
It is indeed fitting that today on the birthday of the Christian Faith, and after three long and arduous months we open our Church for the celebration of this great Feast-day of the Church and that the prayers of those present at today’s Liturgy join with those of you in your homes proclaiming the coming of the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth who fillest all things!
