Sunday of the Holy Pentecost

Христос Међу Нама! Christ is in our midst! Cristo esta' entra nosotros!

Homily on the Feast of Pentecost

By Father Thomas Hopko



In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Old Testament feast of Pentecost occurred 50 days after Passover—the commemoration of the Exodus of the Israelites from captivity and slavery in Egypt—in celebration of God’s gift of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.

In the New Covenant of the Messiah, the Passover event takes on its new meaning—the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection, the “passing over” from death to life and from earth to heaven, the “exodus” of God’s People from this sinful world to the eternal Kingdom. The New Testament Pentecost also is fulfilled and made new by the coming of the “new law” with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ. As we read in the Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed as resting upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit Christ promised to His disciples came on the day of Pentecost (John 14:26, 15:26; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5) as the apostles received “the power from on high” and began to preach and bear witness to Jesus as the risen Christ, the King and the Lord. Traditionally, this moment has been called the “birthday of the Church.”

In the liturgical services for the Great Feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit is celebrated together with the full revelation of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Godhead is manifested with the Spirit’s coming to man, and the Church’s hymns celebrate this manifestation as the final act of God’s self-disclosure and self-donation to the world of His creation. For this reason, Pentecost Sunday also is called Trinity Day in the Orthodox Christian tradition. On this day, the icon of the Holy Trinity — particularly that of the three angelic figures who appeared to Abraham, the forefather of the Christian faith—often is placed in the center of the church, alongside the traditional Pentecost icon depicting the tongues of fire hovering over the Theotokos and the 12 Apostles, the original prototype of the Church, who sit in unity surrounding a symbolic image of “cosmos,” the world.

On Pentecost, we have 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 this world in the Church of the Messiah. For this reason the 50th day stands as the beginning of the era that is beyond the limitations of this world, 50 being that number which stands for eternal and heavenly fulfillment in Jewish as well as Christian mystical piety: seven times seven, plus one.

Thus, Pentecost is called an “apocalyptic day,” which means the day of final revelation. It is also called an “eschatological day,” which means that it is the day of the final and perfect end—in Greek, the eschaton. When the Messiah comes and the Day of the Lord is at hand, the “last days” are inaugurated, in which “God declares, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.’” This is the ancient prophecy to which the Apostle Peter refers in the first sermon of the Christian Church, preached on that first Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2: 1 7; Joel 2: 28-32).

The Great Feast of Pentecost is not simply the celebration of an event which took place centuries ago. Rather, it is the celebration of what must happen—and indeed does happen—to us in the Church today. We have died and risen with the Messiah-King, and we have received His Most Holy Spirit. We are the “temples of the Holy Spirit.” God’s Spirit dwells in us (Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 2-3, 12; 2 Corinthians 3; Galatians 5; Ephesians 2-3). We, by our own membership in the Church, have received “the Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit” in the sacrament of Chrismation. Pentecost has happened to us.

During the Divine Liturgy on Pentecost, we recall our baptism into Christ as we sing, in place of the Trisagion, the well known verse from Galatians: “As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.” The usual antiphons are replaced by special psalm verses that emphasize the meaning of the feast, while the day’s readings from the Epistles and Gospels recall the Holy Spirit’s coming to men. The kontakion speaks of the reversal of Babel, as God unites the nations into the unity of His Spirit. And the troparion proclaims the gathering of the entire universe into God’s “net” through the work of the inspired apostles. In the hymns “O Heavenly King” and “We have seen the True Light”—sung on Pentecost for the first time since Holy Pascha—we invoke the Holy Spirit to “come and abide in us” while proclaiming that “we have received the heavenly Spirit.”

On the evening of Pentecost Sunday, at Vespers, three lengthy prayers are recited, during which we kneel for the first time since Pascha. The Monday after Pentecost is the Feast of the Holy Spirit, while the Sunday after Pentecost is the Feast of All Saints. This is the logical liturgical sequence, since the coming of the Holy Spirit is fulfilled in us as we pursue holiness and sanctity in our own lives—that holiness and sanctity which constitute the very purpose of the creation and salvation of the world: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I your God am holy’” (Leviticus 11:44-45, 1 Peter 1:15-16).

Thus, Pentecost ushers in a new era, in which we are called to pursue sainthood by acquiring the Holy Spirit, by opening ourselves to the fullness of Christ’s revelation to mankind, and by anticipating the Kingdom of God, yet to be fully revealed, but already fully present in our midst as we entreat the Holy Spirit to “come and abide in us” now and in the life of the world to come.

 Commemorating the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles

FIRST ANTIPHON

Verse:  The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork! Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

Refrain: Molitvami, Bogorodici, Spase, spasi nas!

Verse:  Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe!

Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!

Verse: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Refrain: Molitvami, Bogorodici, Spase, spasi nas!

SECOND ANTIPHON

Verse: The Lord answer you in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May He send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion! 

Refrain: Spasi ni, Utešitelju blagij, pojuščija Ti: Aliluja!

Verse: May He remember all your offerings, and fulfill all your plans!

Refrain: Save us, O Gracious Comforter, save us who sing to Thee: “Alleluia!”

Verse: Slava Ocu, i Sinu, i Svjatomu Duhu, i ninje i prisno, i vo vjeki vjekov. Amin. 

Refrain: Jedinorodni Sine… (Only Begotten Son…)

THIRD ANTIPHON

Verse: In Thy strength the King rejoices, O Lord, and exults greatly in Thy salvation! Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withheld the request of his lips!

CHOIR: PENTECOST TROPARION—TONE 8

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God; Who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise, by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit; through them Thou didst draw the world into Thy net.  O Lover of Mankind, Glory to Thee!

Verse: For You meet him with goodly blessing; You set a crown of fine gold upon his head!

CHOIR: PENTECOST TROPARION—TONE 8

Blagosloven jesi, Hriste Bože nas, iže premudri lovci javljej, nizposlav im Duha Svjatago, I tjemi ulovljej vselenuju, Celovjekoljubče, slava Tebje!

Entrance Verse:    Be exalted, O Lord, in Thy strength! We will sing and praise Thy power!

CHOIR: PENTECOST TROPARION—TONE 8

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

CHOIR: PENTECOST KONTAKION—TONE 8

When the Most High came down and confused the tongues, He divided the nations; but when He distributed the tongues of fire, He called all to unity. Therefore, with one voice, we glorify the All-holy Spirit!

Instead of the Trisagion…

As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia.

Instead of “It is Truly Meet…” - Tone 4

Rejoice, O Queen, glory of mothers and virgins! No tongue, however sweet or fluent, is eloquent enough to praise you worthily. Every mind is overawed by your childbearing. Therefore, with one voice, we glorify you.

Communion Hymn:

Let Thy Good Spirit lead me on a level path! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

READERS:

This Week: Matins: Milan Radanovic Epistle: Dasha Gencturk

Next Week: Matins: Nicholas Ressetar Epistle: Marko Rocknage

EPISTLE: Acts 2: 1-11

DEACON:      Let us pay attention. 

PRIEST:        Peace be unto all!

READER:      And with your spirit!

DEACON:      Wisdom.

READER:      The Prokeimenon in the Eighth Tone: Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe!

CHOIR: Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe!

READER: v: The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims His

handiwork.

CHOIR: Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe!

READER: Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth ...

CHOIR: … and their words to the ends of the universe!

DEACON: Wisdom!

READER: The Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

DEACON: Let us attend!

READER: When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.  And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.  Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?  And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?  Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!

READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

READER: By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made; and all their host by the Spirit of His mouth.

CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

READER: The Lord looked down from heaven, and saw all the sons of men.

CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

АПОСТОЛ: Дјела Апостолска 2: 1-11

Ђакон:         Пазимо

Свештеник: Мир свима!

Читач:           I Духу Твоме!

Ђакон:          Премудрост

Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 8 По свој земљи иде казивање њихово, и речи њихове на крај васељене.

Хор: По свој земљи иде казивање њихово, и речи њихове на крај васељене.

Читач: Небеса казују славу Божју, и дела руку Његових гласи свод небески

Хор: По свој земљи иде казивање њихово, и речи њихове на крај васељене.

Читач: По свој земљи иде казивање њихово,

Хор: и речи њихове на крај васељене.

Ђакон: Премудрост

Читач: читање из књиге дјела апостолских

Ђакон: Пазимо

Читач: И кад се наврши педесет дана, бијаху сви апостоли једнодушно на окупу. И уједанпут настаде шум са неба као хујање силнога вјетра, и напуни сав дом гдје они сјеђаху; И показаше им се раздијељени језици као огњени, и сиђе по један на свакога од њих. И испунише се сви Духа Светога и стадоше говорити другим језицима, као што им Дух даваше да казују. А у Јерусалиму борављаху Јудејци, људи побожни из свакога народа који је под небом. Па кад настаде ова хука, скупи се народ, и смете се; јер сваки од њих слушаше гдје они говоре његовим језиком. И дивљаху се и чуђаху се сви говорећи један другоме: Гле, зар нису сви ови што говоре Галилејци? Па како ми чујемо сваки свој језик у коме смо се родили: Парћани и Миђани и Еламити, и који живе у Месопотамији и Јудеји и Кападокији, у Понту и Азији, У Фригији и Памфилији, у Египту и крајевима Либије близу Кирине, и дошљаци Римљани, и Јудејци и прозелити, Крићани и Арапи, чујемо гдје они говоре на нашим језицима о величанственим дјелима Божијим.

Свештеник: Мир свима Читачу!

Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа

Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа

Читач: Речју Господњом Небеса се створише, и духом уста његових сва војска њихова.

Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа

Читач: С неба гледа Господ, види све синове људске.

Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа

Holy Pentecost and the Liturgy

Father Alexander Schmemann

HOLY PENTECOST

In the Church’s annual liturgical cycle, Pentecost is “the last and great day.” It is the celebration by the Church of the coming of the Holy Spirit as the end—the achievement and fulfillment—of the entire history of salvation. For the same reason, however, it is also the celebration of the beginning: it is the “birthday” of the Church as the presence among us of the Holy Spirit, of the new life in Christ, of grace, knowledge, adoption to God and holiness.

This double meaning and double joy is revealed to us, first of all, in the very name of the feast. Pentecost in Greek means fifty, and in the sacred biblical symbolism of numbers, the number fifty symbolizes both the fulness of time and that which is beyond time: the Kingdom of God itself. It symbolizes the fulness of time by its first component: 49, which is the fulness of seven (7 x 7): the number of time. And, it symbolizes that which is beyond time by its second component: 49 + 1, this one being the new day, the “day without evening” of God’s eternal Kingdom. With the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ’s disciples, the time of salvation, the Divine work of redemption has been completed, the fulness revealed, all gifts bestowed: it belongs to us now to “appropriate” these gifts, to be that which we have become in Christ: participants and citizens of His Kingdom.

THE VIGIL OF PENTECOST

The all-night Vigil service begins with a solemn invitation: “Let us celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, The appointed day of promise, and the fulfillment of hope, The mystery which is as great as it is precious.” In the coming of the Spirit, the very essence of the Church is revealed: “The Holy Spirit provides all, Overflows with prophecy, fulfills the priesthood, Has taught wisdom to illiterates, has revealed fishermen as theologians, He brings together the whole council of the Church.”

In the three readings of the Old Testament (Numbers 11:16-17, 24-29; Joel 2:23-32; Ezekiel 36:24-28) we hear the prophecies concerning the Holy Spirit. We are taught that the entire history of mankind was directed towards the day on which God “would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh.” This day has come! All hope, all promises, all expectations have been fulfilled. At the end of the Aposticha hymns, for the first time since Easter, we sing the hymn: “O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth...,” the one with which we inaugurate all our services, all prayers, which is, as it were, the life-breath of the Church, and whose coming to us, whose “descent” upon us in this festal Vigil, is indeed the very experience of the Holy Spirit “coming and abiding in us.”

Having reached its climax, the Vigil continues as an explosion of joy and light for “verily the light of the Comforter has come and illumined the world.” In the Gospel reading (John 20:19-23) the feast is interpreted to us as the feast of the Church, of her divine nature, power and authority. The Lord sends His disciples into the world, as He Himself was sent by His Father. Later, in the antiphons of the Liturgy, we proclaim the universality of the apostles’ preaching, the cosmical significance of the feast, the sanctification of the whole world, the true manifestation of God’s Kingdom.

THE VESPERS OF PENTECOST

The liturgical peculiarity of Pentecost is a very special Vespers of the day itself. Usually this service follows immediately the Divine Liturgy, is “added” to it as its own fulfillment. The service begins as a solemn “summing up” of the entire celebration, as its liturgical synthesis. We hold flowers in our hands symbolizing the joy of the eternal spring, inaugurated by the coming of the Holy Spirit. After the festal Entrance, this joy reaches its climax in the singing of the Great Prokeimenon:

“Who is so great a God as our God?”

Then, having reached this climax, we are invited to kneel. This is our first kneeling since Easter. It signifies that after these fifty days of Paschal joy and fulness, of experiencing the Kingdom of God, the Church now is about to begin her pilgrimage through time and history. It is evening again, and the night approaches, during which temptations and failures await us, when, more than anything else, we need Divine help, that presence and power of the Holy Spirit, who has already revealed to us the joyful End, who now will help us in our effort towards fulfillment and salvation.

All this is revealed in the three prayers which the celebrant reads now as we all kneel and listen to him. In the first prayer, we bring to God our repentance, our increased appeal for forgiveness of sins, the first condition for entering into the Kingdom of God.

In the second prayer, we ask the Holy Spirit to help us, to teach us to pray and to follow the true path in the dark and difficult night of our earthly existence. Finally, in the third prayer, we remember all those who have achieved their earthly journey, but who are united with us in the eternal God of Love.

The joy of Easter has been completed and we again have to wait for the dawn of the Eternal Day. Yet, knowing our weakness, humbling ourselves by kneeling, we also know the joy and the power of the Holy Spirit who has come. We know that God is with us, that in Him is our victory.



Thus is completed the feast of Pentecost and we enter “the ordinary time” of the year. Yet, every Sunday now will be called “after Pentecost”—and this means that it is from the power and light of these fifty days that we shall receive our own power, the Divine help in our daily struggle. At Pentecost we decorate our churches with flowers and green branches—for the Church “never grows old, but is always young.” It is an evergreen, ever-living Tree of grace and life, of joy and comfort. For the Holy Spirit—“the Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life—comes and abides in us, and cleanses us from all impurity,” and fills our life with meaning, love, faith and hope.

~Condolences Offered~

†JOVANKA FOLTZ We offer our condolences to the family of Jovanka Foltz, her husband Ray, her son Greg and his family, and her brother Peter (Arlene) Barber. May her soul dwell with the righteous, be numbered among the just, and may her memory be eternal!

~Vigils Offered~

MICHAEL KRNJAIC Offered in joyful celebration of his birthday (June 26). God’s blessings for many more! Mnogaja Ljeta! Much love from Kat & family.

MATTHEW HOOVER Offered in joyous celebration of our Mateja’s 20th birthday (Vidovdan—June 28). May God’s blessings be with you now and always. Mnogaja Ljeta! All our love, your Babi and the whole family.

LARRY BLACK Offered with love by the Barber, Geib & McLaughlin Families for God’s Blessings during his recovery. We pray that He will bless him with good health. Our Love & Prayers are with him.

TOOTSIE KRNJAICH Offering vigils and prayers for our Kuma Tootsie. May God’s blessings be with her during her rehab period. From her Godchildren, Kat and families.

MICHAEL GEPPERT Offered prayerfully by Mom & Dad for improvement in health and God’s blessings and loving care during his recovery.

†JOVANKA FOLTZ Prayers offered that our sister’s soul may dwell with the righteous and be numbered among the just, by Pete and Arlene Barber. Memory Eternal!

Please continue to pray for all of those currently being persecuted for Christ's sake in Kosovo, Metohija, Montenegro, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco, China, North Korea, for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, that they might be comforted with the Joy of our Lord, and for those who are unjustly persecuted that they may be strengthened by the love of Christ which knows no division.  

LET US PRAY TO THE LORD!

Stewardship Offering Information

Date 6/2/2024

Collection: $2,618.00

Date 5/26/2024

Collection: $1,165.00

Date 5/19/2024

Collection: $2,466.00

June Birthdays

Nikolas Lukic (June 1), Kolton Myers (June 2), Danica Mitrovic (June 2), Theodore Havalchak (June 3), Nora Van Huysen (June 5), Danilo Yanich (June 6), Marie Hernjak (June 6), Luke Jacobs (June 8), Jim Martin (June 9), Guiliana Carricato (June 10), Kyranna Radanovic (June 11), Jimmy Hernjak (June 11), Russell Heilman (June 13), Baylor Hook (June 13), Braydon Fithian (June 16), Xenia Grabbe (June 20), Aleksandar Bracale (June 20), Seren York (June 20), Brian Lewis Jr (June 22), Cayden Healy (June 26), Michael Krnjaic (June 26), Matthew Hoover (June 28), Wayln John (June 28)

June Anniversaries

Dr. James & Liliya Moses (June 1), Brian & Nikki Lewis (June 4), Mike & Terra Heilman (June 4), Fr Christopher & Protinica Andreja (June 13), Mike & Janet Krnjaic (June 14), Nick & Carole Blitva (June 16), Meghan & Brad Livingston (June 25), Mike & Samantha Stefan

HOLY SPIRIT MONDAY

Monday, June 24, we celebrate Holy Spirit Monday with Liturgy at 9.

FEAST OF VIDOVDAN

Friday, June 28, we celebrate the Feast of Vidovdan with Liturgy at 9.

SOTAYA ČEVAPI SALE

Our SOTAYA Group is once again selling frozen packs of cevapi at $17/pack (32 pieces). To order see Dn. Bojan Gligorevic or call the office at 717.939.3872.

MOTHER’S CLUB KIOSK

New items have arrived. Stop by and check out the new Eye Glass Cases, Cards and Prayer Bracelets.

PENTECOST GRASS

Father Christopher asks for forgiveness this year, as the sections of grass left to grow for Pentecost did not do so due to the extreme heat and lack of rain. Thus, there is no grass to weave in Church this year during the Vespers of the Holy Spirit.



VESPERS TRANSFERRED

This week, our Saturday Vespers service will be transferred to Holy Apostles in Mechanicsburg, as they celebrate their 20th Anniversary. Vespers will begin at 6pm at Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, 7111 Wertzville Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 .

PLEASE HELP — BETHESDA MISSION WOMEN’S SHELTER OUTREACH

On the second Saturday of every month, volunteers from our four Orthodox churches prepare and serve lunch for shelter residents. We also help with various projects and activities that assist with shelter operations. If anyone would like to volunteer or learn more about this important program, please contact Andrea Gunther.

PANTRY BOX IN THE LOBBY

The Pantry Box helps to supply much needed goods to the Bethesda Women’s Shelter. Please remember to drop off items like tissues, paper towels, and toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, body lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, combs, hair brushes, feminine hygiene products, etc…

SAVE THE DATE!!

 Club Picnic ..................... July 28

Kids Back to School BBQ September 7

Serb Fest ........................ Sept 14

June Charity

Orthodox Christian Charities of Greater Harrisburg

The Orthodox Christian Charities of Greater Harrisburg, Inc. (OCCGH,) was formed in October of 2009 as a non-profit organization comprised of clergy and faithful from five local Orthodox Churches of the greater Harrisburg metropolitan area. Our goal is to provide opportunities for the citizens of the greater Harrisburg area to come into contact with Orthodoxy, to serve as an educational support to our local parishes, and to develop projects that witness to our Faith, as well as provide financial assistance to organizations and individuals who are in need.