Greetings to one and all on this holy feast of Pentecost – also known as Trinity Sunday, for on this day the fullness of God’s revelation and relationship with mankind was made manifest. Just as Christ promised at His holy ascension, the Comforter has come to us on this day… the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity now enters into the life of the Church and of her Christian people.

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, and Giver of Life. This is why the Church is decorated in green and filled with living branches. The Life-giving Breath of God is exhaled upon us today!

Today we resume our prayer to the Holy Spirit… ‘O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good gifts and the Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.’

The feast of Pentecost is both the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega… it is the end in the sense that it is the fullness of the revelation and outpouring of God upon mankind. Christ’s work has been accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection. Now the Holy Spirit has come upon us and gives us the fullness of the Grace of God. And it is a beginning in the sense that with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles the fullness of the Church was born.

May this day be a day of fulfillment for all of us as well… For God has extended Himself to us, pouring out His life to all. May we respond by extending ourselves and pouring out our love and our life to Him.

We will begin now the Pentecost Vespers service – during which we read the three Kneeling Prayers. It is the first time we have kneeled since Pascha… We ask God for forgiveness and bring our repentance before Him; we call upon the Holy Spirit to guard us and guide us through our earthly pilgrimage; and we commemorate all those who gone before us and with whom we are united in God’s love.

Though Christ has ascended, He does not leave us orphaned… His promise is fulfilled on this day! May the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, be with us and guide us in communion with God.