Pentecost Feast (Fiftieth day) is one of the greatest feasts of the Christians.
Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples “Behold, I will send you the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with the power from on high.” (Luke 24: 49).
The book of Acts chapter 2 explains what happened on the day of Pentecost. A the day of Pentecost, St Peter stood with the rest of the disciples, lifted up his voice and with the help of the Holy Spirit, he explained to the crowed all the prophecy about Lord Jesus Christ and all of these prophecies have been fulfilled and how the salvation is done and that the Lord Jesus who was crucified, he rose from the dead and ascended in to the heaven. Three thousand souls joined the faith and got baptized (Act 1 & 2)
The Apostles used to celebrate Pentecost feast (Acts18:21; Acts 2:16 and 1 Cor 16:7-8)
Pentecost Feast Holy Liturgy Rites:
- The offering of vespers incense: deacons chant the doxology of Pentecost.
- The offering of morning incense: After abouna prays “Efnouti Nai Nan” Deacons chant “Ekhrestos anesty”, “Bekhrestos analemebsis”, and “Bekhrestos aftonf”. The procession is inside the alter. The psalm and gospel responses according to the Pentecost feast.
- Divine Liturgy: Only the psalms and gospel of the third hour of Agpeya is prayed.
- After praxis reading, Abouna prays the litanies of the third hour then the deacons pray the hymn of “Bi-Ebnevma”.
- No Synaxarion reading same as the forty days.
Rites of the Prostration Prayers
- Is prayed at the ninth hour of the day of Sunday (Fiftieth day since Resurrection)
- Is composed of three prayers
- The first and second prayers are prayed in the second chorus of the church
- The third prayer is prayed in the first chorus with the veil of the sanctuary opened.
- The first prayer is prayed in a joyful tune
- The second prayer is prayed in a joyful tune until the reading of the Gospel; the Gospel response, the rest of the prayer and the third prayer are prayed in the standard tune (annual tune)
- During the prayers, a clay pot is placed in the second chorus of the church and filled with coal and incense, commemorating the souls of the saints who have departed