Great Feast

Pentecost

Holy Trinity Day

Icon: Pentecost
The Descent of the Holy Spirit Novgorod · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

When: the 50th day, seven weeks after Pascha.

Fifty days after Pascha, the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles in Jerusalem as tongues of fire, and they began to preach in many languages (Acts 2). This is regarded as the birthday of the Church.

Orthodox Christians call it Trinity Sunday, because with the coming of the Spirit the full revelation of the Holy Trinity is complete. Churches and homes are decorated with green branches and flowers.

At Vespers that evening the kneeling prayers are read, the first kneeling since Pascha. The following week is fast-free.

Written for this app in our own words from the Gospels and long-standing Church tradition. All Great Feasts & Holy Week · Calendar