👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽A Lesson on the Holy Feast of the #Paraclete
Grace and Peace Be Upon You, Beloved in Christ,
Today, we reflect with reverent awe and deep gratitude upon the Feast of the Paraclete, also called Pentecost, the Day on which the promise of our Lord was fulfilled—the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, descended upon the holy assembly and gave birth to the Church. Let us open the eyes of our hearts and consider in depth the majesty, mystery, and meaning of this great feast, drawing from the sacred witness of the Scriptures, the holy apostles, and the unbroken tradition of the Orthodox Church.
The Meaning of the Name “Paraclete”
The word Paraclete, by which the Holy Spirit is called, comes from the Greek tongue. It bears within it profound meaning:
Nazazi – “He who commands”
Metsenehi – “He who confirms”
Mestefsehi – “He who delights”
The Paraclete is not a mere power, nor an influence, nor a poetic metaphor. He is God Himself—the Comforter, the Teacher, the One who empowers and renews, co-equal with the Father and the Son, of the same essence, consubstantial and co-eternal.
The Timing and Significance of the Feast
The Feast of the Paraclete is none other than Pentecost—the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the tenth day after His glorious Ascension into heaven. This is the day on which He, who ascended in glory, sent the promise of the Father to His waiting disciples.
In the Old Covenant, this day was celebrated as the Feast of the Harvest, a time when the people brought the firstfruits and tithes to the Temple. Now, in the New Covenant, it is the day on which the firstfruits of the Church were gathered—three thousand souls came to faith and were baptized. The law was given on Sinai in thunder; the Spirit was given in Jerusalem in fire.
The Vigil in the Upper Room
Following the Ascension, the Holy Virgin Mary, the twelve holy disciples, the seventy-two apostles, and thirty-six holy women withdrew to Jerusalem. There, in unity of heart, they continued in prayer and expectation, for the Lord had said:
“Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
As recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, on the morning of the fiftieth day, while all were assembled in one accord,
“Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house... And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.” (Acts 2:1–4)
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in many tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. No longer fearful, no longer doubting, they were transformed made bold, wise, and steadfast.
The Spirit, who once hovered over the waters at creation, now hovers over the Church, birthing it in power and holiness.
The New Assembly: From Synagogue to Church
As the people of the Law once gathered for the giving of the Torah on Sinai, so now the people of Grace were gathered for the giving of the Spirit. The assembly of the old covenant, dispersed after sacrifice, is replaced by the assembly of the apostles, united in Spirit. The old was a shadow; the new, the reality.
Thus, as the sacrifices of the Law gave way to the Body and Blood of Christ, so too did the synagogue yield to the Holy Church, of which we confess in the Creed:
“We believe in One, Holy, Apostolic Church.”
The Miracle of Tongues and the Wisdom of St. Peter
When the multitudes heard the apostles speaking in their native languages, many marveled, but others mocked, saying, “They are full of new wine.”
Yet St. Peter, filled with the Spirit, rebuked their ignorance and declared:
“These are not drunken, as ye suppose... but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh...’” (Acts 2:15–17)
He boldly proclaimed Christ: crucified, risen, ascended, and returning. He called all to repentance, faith, and baptism.
Continues 👇🏽