Eastern churches of
Timișoara adorned with
oak branches on Pentecost 2025 In the
Eastern Orthodox Church, Pentecost is one of the Orthodox
Great Feasts and is considered to be the highest ranking Great Feast of the Lord, second in rank only to
Pascha (Easter). The service is celebrated with an
All-night Vigil on the
eve of the
feast day, and the
Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast itself.
Orthodox churches are often decorated with greenery and flowers on this feast day, and the celebration is intentionally similar to the Jewish holiday of
Shavuot, which celebrates the giving of the
Mosaic Law. In the
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Pentecost is one of the seven Major "Lord's Feasts". The feast itself lasts three days. The first day is known as "
Trinity Sunday"; the second day is known as "
Spirit Monday" (or "Monday of the Holy Spirit"); and the third day, Tuesday, is called the "
Third Day of the Trinity." The
Afterfeast of Pentecost lasts for one week, during which
fasting is not permitted, even on Wednesday and Friday. In the Orthodox
Tradition, the
liturgical color used at Pentecost is
green, and the clergy and faithful carry flowers and green branches in their hands during the services. All of the remaining days of the
ecclesiastical year, until the preparation for the next
Great Lent, are named for the day after Pentecost on which they occur. This is again counted inclusively, such that the 15th day of Pentecost is 14 days after Trinity Sunday. The exception is that the
Melkite Greek Catholic Church marks Sundays "after
Holy Cross". The Orthodox
icon of the feast depicts the Twelve Apostles seated in a semicircle (sometimes the
Theotokos (Virgin Mary) is shown sitting in the center of them). At the top of the icon, the Holy Spirit, in the form of tongues of fire, is descending upon them. At the bottom is an
allegorical figure, called
Kosmos, which symbolizes the world. Although Kosmos is crowned with earthly glory he sits in the darkness caused by the ignorance of God. He is holding a towel on which have been placed 12 scrolls, representing the teaching of the Twelve Apostles.
Kneeling Prayer An extraordinary service called the "Kneeling Prayer" is observed on the night of Pentecost. This is a
Vespers service to which are added three sets of long poetical prayers, the composition of
Basil the Great, during which everyone makes a full
prostration, touching their foreheads to the floor (prostrations in church having been forbidden from the day of
Pascha (Easter) up to this point). Uniquely, these prayers include a petition for all of those in hell, that they may be granted relief and even ultimate release from their confinement, if God deems this possible. In the
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, it is observed at the time of ninth hour (3:00 pm) on the Sunday of Pentecost.
Apostles' Fast The Second Monday after Pentecost is the beginning of the Apostles' Fast (which continues until the
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29). Theologically, Orthodox do not consider Pentecost to be the "birthday" of the church; they see the church as having existed before the creation of the world (cf.
The Shepherd of Hermas). In the
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the "Apostles Fast" has a fixed end date on the fifth of the Coptic month of Epip (which currently falls on July 12, which is equivalent to June 29, due to the current 13-day Julian-Gregorian calendar offset). The fifth of Epip is the commemoration of the Martyrdom of St. Peter and Paul.
Western churches (1308)
Tempera on wood.| A typical Western image of the Pentecost.
Duccio di Buoninsegna (1308). The liturgical celebrations of Pentecost in
Western churches are as rich and varied as those in the East. The typical image of Pentecost in the West is that of the
Virgin Mary seated centrally and prominently among the disciples with flames resting on the crowns of their heads. Occasionally, parting clouds suggesting the action of the "mighty wind"; Before the
Second Vatican Council Pentecost Monday as well was a
Holy Day of Obligation during which the Catholic Church addressed the newly baptized and confirmed. Since the council, Pentecost Monday is no longer solemnized. Pentecost Monday remains an official festival in many Protestant churches, such as the (Lutheran)
Church of Sweden, the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, and others. In the
Byzantine Catholic Rite Pentecost Monday is no longer a
Holy Day of Obligation, but rather a simple
holiday. In the Extraordinary Form of the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, as at Easter, the
liturgical rank of Monday and Tuesday of Pentecost week is a Double of the First Class and across many Western denominations, Pentecost is celebrated with an
octave culminating on
Trinity Sunday. However, in the modern Roman Rite (Ordinary Form), Pentecost ends after Evening Prayer on the feast day itself, with
Ordinary Time resuming the next day. :
Aberystwyth,
National Library of Wales, MS 15536E, fol. 169v, parchment, ca. 1310-1320. Marking the festival's importance, as the principal feast of the church and the fulfilment of Christ's purpose in coming into the world, namely bringing the Holy Spirit which had departed with Adam and Eve's fall, back into the world, all 33 following Sundays are "Sundays after Pentecost" in the Orthodox Church. In several denominations, such as the Lutheran, Episcopal, and
United Methodist churches, and formerly in the Roman Catholic Church, all the Sundays from the holiday itself until
Advent in late November or December are designated the 2nd, 3rd, etc. Sunday after Pentecost, again traditionally
reckoned inclusively. Throughout the year, in Roman Catholic piety, Pentecost is the third of the
Glorious Mysteries of the
Holy Rosary, as well as being one of the
Stations of the Resurrection or Via Lucis. In some
Evangelical and
Pentecostal churches, where there is less emphasis on the
liturgical year, Pentecost may still be one of the greatest celebrations in the year, such as in
Germany or
Romania. In other cases, Pentecost may be ignored as a holy day in these churches. In many evangelical churches in the United States, the secular holiday,
Mother's Day, may be more celebrated than the biblical feast of Pentecost. Some evangelicals and Pentecostals are observing the liturgical calendar and observe Pentecost as a day to teach the
Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Across denominational lines Pentecost has been an opportunity for Christians to honor the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and celebrate the birth of the Christian Church in an
ecumenical context.
Red symbolism The main sign of Pentecost in the West is the colour red. It symbolizes joy and the fire of the Holy Spirit. Priests or ministers, and choirs wear red
vestments, and in modern times, the custom has extended to the
lay people of the congregation wearing red clothing in celebration as well. Red banners are often hung from walls or ceilings to symbolize the blowing of the "mighty wind" and the free movement of the Spirit. In some cases, red fans, or red handkerchiefs, are distributed to the congregation to be waved during the procession, etc. Other congregations have incorporated the use of red balloons, signifying the "Birthday of the Church". These may be borne by the congregants, decorate the sanctuary, or released all at once.
Flowers, fruits, and branches The celebrations may depict symbols of the Holy Spirit, such as the dove or flames, symbols of the church such as
Noah's Ark and the
Pomegranate, or especially within Protestant churches of
Reformed and
Evangelical traditions, words rather than images naming for example, the
gifts and
Fruits of the Spirit. Red flowers at the altar/preaching area, and red flowering plants such as
geraniums around the church are also typical decorations for Pentecost masses/services. In the southern hemisphere, for example, in southern Australia, Pentecost comes in the mellow autumntide, after the often great heat of summer, and the red leaves of the poinsettia have often been used to decorate churches then. These flowers often play an important role in the ancestral rites, and other rites, of the particular congregation. For example, in both Protestant and Catholic churches, the plants brought in to decorate for the holiday may be each "sponsored" by individuals in memory of a particular loved one, or in honor of a living person on a significant occasion, such as their
Confirmation day. Similarly, a large two dimensional dove figure would be, and in some places still is, cut from wood, painted, and decorated with flowers, to be lowered over the congregation, particularly during the singing of the
sequence hymn, or
Veni Creator Spiritus. In other places, particularly
Sicily and the
Italian peninsula,
rose petals were and are thrown from the galleries over the congregation, recalling the tongues of fire. (see
below) In modern times, this practice has been revived, and adapted as well, to include the strewing of
origami doves from above or suspending them, sometimes by the hundreds, from the ceiling.
Hymns and music The singing of Pentecost hymns is also central to the celebration in the Western tradition. Hymns such as
Martin Luther's "
Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott" (Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord),
Charles Wesley's "Spirit of Faith Come Down" and "Come Holy Ghost Our Hearts Inspire" or
Hildegard von Bingen's "O Holy Spirit Root of Life" are popular. Some traditional hymns of Pentecost make reference not only to themes relating to the Holy Spirit or the church, but to folk customs connected to the holiday as well, such as the decorating with green branches. Other hymns include "Oh that I had a Thousand Voices" ("
O daß ich tausend Zungen hätte") by German, Johann Mentzer Verse 2: "
Ye forest leaves so green and tender, that dance for joy in summer air ..." or "O Day Full of Grace" ("
Den signede Dag") by
Dane,
N. F. S. Grundtvig verse 3: "
Yea were every tree endowed with speech and every leaflet singing ...". As Pentecost closes the Easter Season in the Roman Catholic Church, the
dismissal with the double alleluia is sung at the end of Mass. The Paschal Candle is removed from the sanctuary at the end of the day. In the Roman Catholic Church,
Veni Sancte Spiritus is the
sequence hymn for the Day of Pentecost. This has been translated into many languages and is sung in many denominations today. As an invocation of the Holy Spirit,
Veni Creator Spiritus is sung during liturgical celebrations on the feast of Pentecost. Trumpeters or
brass ensembles are often specially contracted to accompany singing and provide special music at Pentecost services, recalling the Sound of the mighty wind. Another custom is reading the appointed Scripture lessons in multiple foreign languages recounting the speaking in tongues recorded in .
Fasting and devotions For some
Protestants, the nine days between
Ascension Day, and Pentecost are set aside as a time of
fasting and universal prayer in honour of the disciples' time of prayer and unity awaiting the Holy Spirit. Similarly among
Roman Catholics, special Pentecost
novenas are prayed. The Pentecost Novena is considered the first novena, all other novenas prayed in preparation of various feasts deriving their practice from those original nine days of prayer observed by the disciples of Christ. While the Eve of Pentecost was traditionally a day of fasting for Catholics, contemporary
canon law no longer requires it. Both Catholics and Protestants may hold spiritual
retreats, prayer
vigils, and
litanies in the days leading up to Pentecost. In some cases vigils on the Eve of Pentecost may last all night. Pentecost is also one of the occasions specially appointed for the Lutheran Litany to be sung. On the morning of Pentecost, a popular custom is "to ascend hill tops and mountains during the early dawn of Whitsunday to pray. People call this observance 'catching the Holy Ghost.' Thus they express in symbolic language the spiritual fact that only by means of prayer can the divine Dove be 'caught' and the graces of the Holy Spirit obtained." Another custom is for families to suspend "artfully carved and painted wooden doves, representing the Holy Spirit" over the dining tables as "a constant reminder for members of the family to venerate the Holy Spirit." Holy Communion is likewise often a feature of the Protestant observance of Pentecost as well. It is one of the relatively few Sundays some
Reformed denominations may offer the communion meal, and is one of the days of the year specially appointed among
Moravians for the celebration of their Love Feasts.
Ordinations are celebrated across a wide array of Western denominations at Pentecost, or near to it. In some denominations, for example the
Lutheran Church, even if an ordination or consecration of a
deaconess is not celebrated on Pentecost, the
liturgical color will invariably be red, and the theme of the service will be the Holy Spirit. Above all, Pentecost is a day to hold
Confirmation celebrations for youth. Flowers, the wearing of white robes or white dresses recalling Baptism, rites such as the
laying on of hands, and vibrant singing play prominent roles on these joyous occasions, the blossoming of Spring forming an equal analogy with the blossoming of youth.
Rosalia A popular tradition arose in both west and east of decorating the church with roses on Pentecost, leading to a popular designation of Pentecost as or "Rose Feast"; in Greek this became (). This led to
Rusalii becoming the
Romanian-language term for the feast, as well as the
Neapolitan popular designation
Pasca rusata ("rosey Easter"). In modern times, the term in Greek refers to the eve of Pentecost, not Pentecost itself; or, in the case of
Megara in
Attica, to the Monday and Tuesday after
Pascha, as roses are often used during the whole liturgical season of the
Pentecostarion, not just Pentecost.
John Chrysostom warned his flock not to allow this custom to replace spiritually adorning themselves with virtue in reception of the
Fruits of the Holy Spirit. == Mariology ==