Matthias was there during the Pentecost, which means he became holy without ever having been a disciple. In this way, many Christians believe that God lives inside them because they have allowed the Holy Spirit to enter them. Pretty esoteric stuff for very young kids, though.
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Similarly to Shavout, churches are decorated with greenery and flowers. The feast takes place for three days followed by a weeklong Afterfeast.
The night of Pentecost, churches hold the Kneeling Prayer service, consisting of long liturgical prayers and prostration, meaning observers touch the floor with their foreheads. Western churches also celebrate Pentecost with many traditions. Red is used in decorations to symbolize the fire of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit may be symbolized through flames, doves, pomegranates, or other religious icons. Red flowers may symbolize renewal. European churches may use green branches or birch to decorate churches as well. Churches may hire special brass ensembles or trumpet players to accompany their regular choir. Some congregations hold services or religious outreach programs in different languages in remembrance of the Apostles spreading the word in many different tongues.
Celebrations do not only depend on which part of the world but which denomination. Protestants fast for the days between Ascension Day and the Pentecost.
Catholics also observe this period as significant with special Novena prayers and are required to confess. These two denominations often hold vigils, prayer sessions, religious retreats, and litanies during this period.
In many faiths, baptisms are often performed on Pentecost, an ancient tradition for the holiday. There were several festivals, celebrations, or observances that took place before Pentecost. The Feast of Firstfruits was the celebration of the beginning of the barley harvest. Here's the way you figured out the date of Pentecost.
According to the Old Testament, you would go to the day of the celebration of Firstfruits, and beginning with that day, you would count off 50 days. The fiftieth day would be the Day of Pentecost. So Firstfruits is the beginning of the barley harvest and Pentecost the celebration of the beginning of the wheat harvest.
Since it was always 50 days after Firstfruits, and since 50 days equals seven weeks, it always came a "week of weeks" later. Therefore, they either called it the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks. Modern Christians observe Pentecost as a holiday, not to celebrate a wheat harvest, but to remember when the Holy Spirit invaded the Church in Acts 2. This strange occurrence drew a large crowd, and Peter stood up to speak to them about repentance and the gospel of Christ Acts By the end of the day that the Holy Spirit came, the Church grew by 3, people Acts This is why Christians still celebrate Pentecost.
John Gill expresses the significance in his commentary:. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit in John , who would be the Helper for his people. This New Testament event is also significant because it fulfills an Old Testament prophecy in Joel Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
In a video for Christianity. The significance of Pentecost to the church is something that we need to walk through carefully, and we shouldn't ignore, because Pentecost was a Jewish celebration. And so in our modern day of the New Testament church, we don't celebrate Pentecost in the way that the Old Testament Hebrews did. But Pentecost was the moment in history after Christ had ascended. And he had promised during the gospel narratives, during his earthly ministry, that he would leave, but that he would send the comforter, he would send the holy spirit.
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