Pentecost

Today we celebrate Pentecost, which is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church (of which there are 12, not including Pascha which is the Feast of Feasts). Orthodoxwiki (already linked to) has this to say about Pentecost:

"The Orthodox Church sees Pentecost as the final fulfillment of the mission of Jesus Christ and the first beginning of the messianic age of the Kingdom of God, mystically present in his Church. It is traditionally called the beginning of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Besides celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit, the feast also celebrates the full revelation of the divine Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Hymns of the Church, celebrate the sign of the final act of God's self-disclosure to the world of His creation.
To Orthodox Christians, the feast of Pentecost is not just a celebration of an event in history. It is also a celebration their membership in the Church. They have lived Pentecost and received "the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit" in the sacrament of chrismation."

Most of my readers should remember the story from the book of Acts and how the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles heads in the form of flames. If you would like to know some of the symbolism behind the Icon at the top please see what Orthodoxwiki has to say.

Hopefully when I return home I can start to get pictures of my parish decorated for these feasts to post and maybe go into some of the detail of the celebrations. Right now I don't get that option and the only pictures I could put up are of this sandstorm that has been going on for almost three days.

Any way I hope you all have a happy and wonderful Sunday and a blessed Pentecost.