Information AboutPentecost |
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Pentecost or '''Pentecost Sunday''' (symbolically related to the Jewish festival of Shavuot ) is a Feast on the Christian Liturgical Calendar that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostle s and women followers of Jesus , fifty days after Easter , and ten days after Ascension Thursday . "The Pentecost" refers to the historical event when, according to Christian belief, the descent of the Holy Spirit —a transformative and profound experience, as described in the Book Of Acts 2:1:—occurs: :''1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. {Link without Title} Pentecost is also known in English , especially in the Britain , as Whitsun (Whitsunday), from the Old English , as ''Hwita Sunnandæg'', ("White Sunday,") —in reference to the white robes worn by those Baptized on the previous Easter . (about 1200)]] The name "Pentecost" comes from the Greek word ''Pentékosté'', (fiftieth), and originally referred to the Jewish Shavuot —celebrating the fiftieth day after Passover (the second day of Passover is the first day of Counting The Omer ). The Hebrew festival was originally connected with celebrating the first-fruits of the spring grain Harvest , but the Christian festival lost those associations to the new association with the descent of the Holy Spirit, even though both events are spiritually related. (The Christians who received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost constituted the 'first fruits' of the redemption paid for in the crucifixion of Jesus .) . Not only Pentecostal Christian churches celebrate the day of Pentecost. In the Roman Catholic Church and its Eastern Rites, the feast of Pentecost Sunday is celebrated with the rank of a solemnity (the highest liturgical rank for any feast). Most Christians recognise the event of Pentecost as 'the birth of the Church' (the moment when its foundation was completed). The Jewish feast of Pentecost, or Shavuot, is also called:
In the Hellenistic period, the feast was for renewal of the covenant God made with Noah (). THE BAPTISM OF THE THREE-THOUSAND According to the Book Of Acts 2:1, the experience of the Pentecost was shared by all in the large crowd, caused confusion, and inspired fear. :''6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? [... 12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? [http://onlineparallelbible.com/acts/2.htm Then (the Apostle) Peter standing with the eleven other apostles spoke to the crowd. He explained that these strange events had been predicted by the prophet Joel, and that Jesus's coming had been prophecied by David. Peter then explained that these events confirmed David's prophesied exaltation of Jesus and Peter exorted his listeners to turn to Christ. About three thousand responded to Peter's sermon. Three Physical signs occurred showing the coming of the Holy Spirit. A. Sound of Blowing Wind B. Vision of tongues of Fire that rested on each of them. The tongues of Fire which descended on the disciples represents a theophany(a visible manifestation of God). This is important to Christianity in that it represents the dynastic succession of power from Jesus to the Holy Spirit who guides the believers. C. Spoke to each other in tongues/different languages. This was important in that it was key for the spread of the gospel. The Holy Spirit acted as a translator so that as the preaching occurred everyone there comprehended the message in their own native language. :''26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. [...
:''38Then Peter said unto them, Repent , and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.[http://onlineparallelbible.com/acts/2.htm TRADITIONS AND HOLIDAYS illuminated manuscript.]] The name "Whit" does not come from use of white robes/garments worn at baptism. This tradition of wearing white started after Pentecost was called Whit Sunday. The word "whit" comes from the word "wisdom", one of the gifts of the Spirit at Pentecost. Hence the varying names for Pentecost in other countries, individually signifying various gifts, attributes and signs of the Holy Spirit. ( F Noy -Dorchester)
The following Monday is a holiday in much of Europe . The day is known as ''Whit Monday'' in England, Wales , and Ireland , and is also celebrated in Iceland , Norway , Denmark , The Netherlands , Belgium , parts of Switzerland , Germany and Hungary . Since 1967 , however, Whit Monday has not been a public holiday in the United Kingdom; the holiday has been moved to the fixed date of the last Monday in May, which sometimes but by no means always coincides with Whit Monday. Whit Monday also ceased to be a statutory holiday in France in 2005 , where the abolishment led to strong protests. Also in Sweden Whit Monday is no longer a holiday and June 6 (Swedish National Day) has become a day off. Whitsunday remains one of the Scottish Term Days , at which debts are paid and leases traditionally expire, but this Scottish Whitsunday is now always considered to fall on May 15. WHEN IS PENTECOST? Pentecost is always seven weeks after Easter Sunday. It is in mid- to late Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and mid- to late Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere . The earliest possible date is May 10 , the latest possible date is June 13 . ETYMOLOGY The Pentecost is also known as Whitsun (Whitsunday) in the UK because of the white robes traditionally worn this day by those newly Baptized on the previous Easter . The word was already familiar in Old English , as ''Hwita Sunnandæg''. The week beginning on Whitsunday (especially the first three days) is called '''Whitsuntide''' (formerly also spelled '''Whitsontide''') or '''Whit Week.''' SEE ALSO
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