17 Pentecost Facts: Learn All About This Christian Holiday
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Pentecost is a significant holy day in the Christian faith.
Pentecost is a holiday that celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter and falls on different dates each year, depending on the date of Easter.
Pentecost is one of the most important holidays for Christians and has a rich history and tradition. This religious holiday is celebrated in different ways by different communities around the world, but always with an emphasis on faith and joy. So what is Pentecost all about? Read on to know more.
History Of Pentecost
Pentecost is one of the oldest and most important holidays in the Christian calendar, but it has a pagan origin. Let us see some fascinating historical facts about Pentecost and its celebration.
According to the Old Testament, the Feast of Pentecost was originally a Jewish harvest festival known as Shavuot or Festival of Weeks that took place 50 days from Passover.
The first Pentecost happened 49 days or seven weeks after Jesus Christ was crucified outside Jerusalem. His followers were gathered together on the day of the Festival of Weeks when a violent wind descended upon them.
The mighty wind carried down something akin to tongues of fire, which came and settled on the people inside the house. This was supposedly the Holy Spirit entering the disciples.
Having been blessed by the Holy Spirit, the apostles began speaking fervently in various tongues, and the onlookers who had gathered hearing the commotion understood them. It is believed that people from all regions of the world lived in the diaspora.
The apostle Peter delivered his first sermon here. He moved to take command of the crowd and spoke to them about God and the prophecy of Joel in the Old Testament, convincing the people to get baptized.
Around 3,000 people chose to accept Peter's message and got baptized, essentially marking the 'birth' of the Christian Church.
In the early days of the Church, Christians would celebrate all 50 days between Easter and the actual Pentecost.
The Significance Of Pentecost
Amongst Christians, this day is celebrated on the 50th day, or the seventh Sunday after Easter Sunday. This year, June 5 (Sunday) is the day Pentecost will be celebrated. Read on to know why Pentecost is so important in the Christian faith.
In the Bible, Pentecost is the Festival of Weeks, or Shavuot, which originally celebrated the harvest season and later commemorated God's giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.
For Christians, Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ and the rise of the Church.
Pentecost is especially important to the Pentecostal Christians, a sect who believe that all people attending service are touched by the Holy Spirit for that duration.
Over time, Pentecost became the preferred occasion for baptism in northern Europe. The feast of Pentecost is also celebrated as White Sunday in places like England because of the white clothes worn for baptism.
In western churches like the Catholic Church, priests often wear red robes and decorate the altar in red cloth. This is to symbolize when the Holy Spirit gave itself to the apostles as tongues of fire.
Mythological Aspects
There are some mythological aspects associated with Pentecost, often depicted as a time when people can experience God's power and presence more directly.
The events of the Pentecost are referenced as the 'Festival of Weeks' in the Old Testament. Pentecost has been mentioned three times in the New Testament.
Festival of Weeks was a harvest festival and later signified as Moses receiving the 10 Commandments and Torah on Mount Sinai. It is believed that this day was chosen by God to send down the Holy Spirit because the festival meant a huge crowd of people would be present in Jerusalem.
Virgin Mary had a significant role to play in the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. She was among the apostles, waiting for the spirit.
In the west, a typical illustration of the Pentecost would have Virgin Mary positioned in the center and the apostles surrounding her. It is widely accepted that she was the bridge between God, the permanent gift of the spirit, and the apostles.
It is a tradition in many western countries to sing hymns referencing the events of the Pentecost, such as 'Spirit Of Faith Come Down' and 'Come Holy Ghost Our Hearts Inspire' by Charles Wesley.
FAQs
What is special about Pentecost?
Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus' disciples.
Why is Pentecost important to Christianity?
This event marks the beginning of the Christian Church.
What happened on the day of Pentecost?
The Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles from heaven.
What is the meaning of Pentecost?
Pentecost comes from the Greek word 'pentekoste,' meaning 'fiftieth day' or 'fifty.'
What is the feast of Pentecost?
It is a Christian festival and the second-most important feast for Christians after Easter.
When is Pentecost celebrated?
Pentecost is celebrated 50 days from Easter Sunday every year.
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Sources
https://drivethruhistory.com/history-of-pentecost/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pentecost-Christianity
https://crsisterschicago.org/blogs/the-virgin-mary-and-pentecost/
https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/4-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-feast-of-pentecost/
https://christianchurchofgod.com/the-first-pentecost/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecost
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/nine-key-things-to-know-about-pentecost/54344.htm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/pentecost.shtml
https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/easter/what-is-pentecost-and-what-should-christians-know-about-this-event.html
https://askingthelot.com/what-was-pentecost-in-old-testament/
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