THE FEAST OF PENTECOST

AT GREAT VESPERS
On “Lord I have cried ...,” 10 Stichera from the Pentecostarion, in Tone I:
Verse: Bring my soul out of prison * that I may confess Thy name.
We celebrate Pentecost * and the coming of the Spirit, * and the time
appointed for the promise, * and the fulfillment of hope. * How great is this
mystery: * it is both exceeding great and most venerable. * Wherefore, we cry
unto Thee: ** O Creator of all, Lord, glory be to Thee.
Verse: The righteous shall wait patiently for me * until Thou shalt reward
me.
Repeat: We celebrate Pentecost ...,
Verse: Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; * O Lord, hear
my voice.
Thou hast renewed Thy disciples with foreign tongues, O Christ, * that they
might therewith proclaim Thee, * the immortal Word and God, ** Who
granteth our souls great mercy.
Verse: Let Thine ears be attentive * to the voice of my supplication.
The Holy Spirit provideth all things; * He gusheth forth prophecy; * He
perfecteth the priesthood; * He hath taught wisdom to the illiterate. * He hath
shown forth the fishermen as theologians. * He holdeth together the whole
institution of the Church. * Wherefore, O Comforter, * one in essence and
throne with the Father and the Son, ** glory be to Thee.
Tone II:
Verse: If Thou shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, O Lord, who shall
stand? * For with Thee there is forgiveness.
We have seen the true Light; * we have received the Heavenly Spirit; * we
have found the true Faith, * we worship the indivisible Trinity; ** for He hath
saved us.
Verse: For Thy name’s sake have I patiently waited for Thee, O Lord;
my soul hath patiently waited for Thy word, * my soul hath hoped in the
Lord.
Repeat: We have seen the true Light ...,
Verse: From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch *
let Israel hope in the Lord.
 In the Prophets Thou didst proclaim unto us * the way of salvation, * and
the grace of Thy Spirit hath shone in the Apostles, O our Savior; * Thou art
God Who art from the beginning, * and for time to come, and unto the ages, **
Thou art our God.
Verse: For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous
redemption; * and He shall redeem Israel out of all his iniquities.
In Thy courts shall I praise Thee, * the Savior of the world, * and bending
my knee I shall worship Thine invincible might. * In the evening, in the morn,
at midday, ** and at all times shall I bless Thee, O Lord.
Verse: O praise the Lord, all ye nations; * praise Him, all ye peoples.
In Thy courts, O Lord, as we the faithful * bend the knee of the soul and
the body, * we praise Thee, the beginningless Father, * the co-beginningless
Son, * and the co-eternal and Most holy Spirit, ** Who dost enlighten and
sanctify our souls.
Verse: For He hath made His mercy to prevail over us, * and the truth of
the Lord abideth forever.
Let us praise the consubstantial Trinity: * the Father and the Son, with the
Holy Spirit; * for thus did all the Prophets and Apostles preach, ** with the
Martyrs.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., in Tone VIII
Come, O ye peoples, * let us worship the Godhead in three Hypostases: *
the Son in the Father, with the Holy Spirit; * for the Father timelessly begat the
Son, * Who is co-eternal and of one throne; * and the Holy Spirit was in the
Father, glorified with the Son; * one Might, one essence, one Godhead, * which
we all worship, saying: * Holy God, Who didst create all things through the Son,
* with the co-operation of the Holy Spirit. * Holy Mighty, through Whom we
have known the Father, * and through Whom the Holy Spirit came to the
world. * Holy Immortal, the Comforting Spirit, * Who proceedest from the
Father and restest in the Son. ** O Holy Trinity, glory be to Thee.
After the Entrance and “O Joyous Light ...”,
Saturday Vespers Prokeimenon, in Tone VI:
The Lord is King, * He is clothed with majesty.
Verse: The Lord is clothed with strength and He hath girt Himself.
Verse: For He established the universe which shall not be shaken.
Verse: Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.
 The Three Scriptural Lessons.
THE READING IS FROM THE BOOK OF NUMBERS
The Lord said to Moses: “Gather Me seventy men from the elders of Israel,
whom thou thyself knowest that they are the elders of the people, and their
scribes; and thou shalt bring them to the tabernacle of witness, and they shall
stand there with thee. And I will go down, and speak there with thee; and I will
take of the Spirit that is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall
bear together with thee the assaults of the people, and thou shalt not bear them
alone.” And Moses went out, and spake the words of the Lord to the people;
and he gathered seventy of the elders of the people, and he set them round
about the tabernacle. And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake to him,
and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and put it upon the seventy men that
were elders; and when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied and ceased.
And there were two men left in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and
the name of the other Medad; and the Spirit rested upon them, and these were
of the number of those who were enrolled, but they did not come to the
tabernacle; and they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told
Moses, and spake, saying: “Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp.” And
Joshua the son of Nun, who attended on Moses, the chosen one, said: “Lord
Moses, forbid them.” And Moses said to him: “Art thou jealous on my account?
Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets; whenever the Lord shall put
His Spirit upon them.”
THE READING IS FROM THE PROPHECY OF JOEL
Thus saith the Lord: “Rejoice and be glad, ye children of Zion, in the Lord
your God; for He hath given you food fully, and will rain upon you the early
and the latter rain, as before. And the floors shall be filled with wheat, and the
presses shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will recompense you for the
years which the locust, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, and the
cankerworm have eaten, even My great army, which I sent against you. And ye
shall eat abundantly, and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of the Lord your
God for the things which He hath wrought wonderfully with you: and My
people shall not be shamed forever. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of
Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and there is none else beside Me; and
My people shall no more be ashamed forever. And it shall come to pass
afterward, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your
young men shall see visions. And on My servants and handmaids in those days
will I pour out of My Spirit. And I will show wonders in heaven, and upon the
earth: blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the
Lord is come. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name
of the Lord shall be saved.”
THE READING IS FROM EZEKIEL
Thus said the Lord: “I will take you out from the nations, and will gather
you out of all the lands, and will bring you into your own land: and I will
sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be purged from all your filthiness,
and from all your idols, and I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart,
and will put a new spirit in you: and I will take away the heart of stone out of
your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you,
and will cause you to walk in Mine ordinances, and to keep My judgments, and
do them. And ye shall dwell upon the land which I gave to your fathers; and ye
shall be to Me a people, and I will be to you a God.”
At the Litiya, in Tone II:
In the Prophets Thou didst proclaim unto us * the way of salvation, * and
the grace of Thy Spirit hath shone in the Apostles, O our Savior; * Thou art
God Who art from the beginning, * and for time to come, and unto the ages, **
Thou art our God.
In Thy courts shall I praise Thee, * the Savior of the world, * and bending
my knee I shall worship Thine invincible might. * In the evening, in the morn,
at midday, ** and at all times shall I bless Thee, O Lord.
In Thy courts, O Lord, as we the faithful * bend the knee of the soul and
the body, * we praise Thee, the beginningless Father, * the co-beginningless
Son, * and the co-eternal and Most holy Spirit, ** Who dost enlighten and
sanctify our souls.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., in Tone VIII:
When Thou didst send down Thy Spirit, O Lord, * while the Apostles were
seated, * the children of the Jews beheld and were astonished with amazement;
* for they heard them speaking in other, foreign tongues, * according as the
Spirit bestowed on them; * for though they were unlearned, they were made
wise; * and in catching and bringing the nations to the Faith, * they preached of
things divine. * Wherefore, we also cry to Thee: * O Thou Who wast seen on
earth and didst save us from error, ** O Lord, glory be to Thee.
 The Aposticha of the Feast, in Tone VI:
Being ignorant of the power of Thy most holy Spirit, * which was come
unto Thine Apostles, O Lord, * the heathen imagined the diversity of tongues
to be drunkenness. * But we who are established by them speak thus
unceasingly: * Take not Thy Holy Spirit from us, we pray, ** O Lover of
mankind.
Verse: Create in me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit
within me.
O Lord, the descent of the Holy Spirit, * which enveloped Thine Apostles, *
made them to speak with other tongues. * Hence, the strange wonder was
thought to be drunkenness by the unbelievers, * but to the believers it was a
cause of salvation. * Wherefore, we beseech Thee to grant us also His
illumination, ** O Lover of mankind.
Verse: Cast me not away from Thy presence, * and take not Thy Holy
Spirit from me.
Heavenly King, * Comforter, Spirit of Truth, * Who art everywhere present
* and fillest all things, * Treasury of good gifts * and Giver of life: * come and
abide in us, * and cleanse us of all impurity, ** and save our souls, O Good
One.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., in Tone VIII:
Of old the tongues were confounded * because of the audacity in the
building of the tower, * but now the tongues are made wise * because of the
glory of Divine knowledge. * There God condemned the impious because of
their offense, * and here Christ hath enlightened the fishermen by the Spirit. *
At that time the confusion of tongues was wrought for punishment, * but now
the concord of tongues hath been inaugurated ** for the salvation of our souls.
“Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart ...”, Trisagion. Then:
The Troparion of the Feast, in Tone VIII:
Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, * Who hast shown forth the fishermen
as supremely wise, * by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, *and through
them didst draw the world into Thy net. ** O Lover of mankind, glory be to
Thee. (Thrice)
 AT MATINS
On “God is The Lord ...,” the Troparion of the Feast, in Tone VIII:
Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, * Who hast shown forth the fishermen
as supremely wise, * by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, *and through
them didst draw the world into Thy net. ** O Lover of mankind, glory be to
Thee. (Twice)
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., the foregoing is repeated
st
After the 1 chanting of the Psalter (Kath. II) Sessional Hymn, in Tone IV:
Let us, O ye faithful, * radiantly celebrate that which followeth the former
feast, * and is the concluding feast; * that is, the day of Pentecost, * the
fulfillment of the promise and of the appointed time, * for thereon the fire from
the Comforter came down upon earth, * as it were in the form of tongues, *
and enlightened the disciples, * making them participants in heavenly things. *
The light of the Comforter ** hath come and enlightened the world.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., the foregoing is repeated
After the 2nd chanting of the Psalter (Kath. III) Sessional Hymn, in Tone IV:
The well-spring of the Spirit, coming to earth, * noetically divided into rivers
of fire, * and bedewed the apostles, enlightening them; * and He was to them a
bedewing cloud, * a fire enlightening them, a flame raining down. * Through
them we have received grace, through fire and water. ** The light of the
Comforter hath come and illumined the world.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., the foregoing is repeated
The Polyeleos
Megalynarion: We magnify Thee, * O Christ the Giver of life, * and we
honor Thine All-Holy Spirit, * Whom Thou didst send from the Father *
to Thy divine disciples.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament
proclaimeth the work of His hands.
Then the Sessional Hymn of the Feast, in Tone VIII:
After Thine arising from the tomb, O Christ, * and Thy divine Ascension to
the height of heaven, * Thou didst send down Thy glory upon the God-seers, O
Compassionate One, * having renewed a right spirit in Thy disciples. *
Wherefore, like a musical harp plucked with a divine plectrum, ** they have
mysteriously made clear Thy command, O Savior, and Thy dispensation.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., the foregoing is repeated
 The Songs of Ascent, 1st Antiphon, in Tone IV:
From my youth * do many passions war against me; * but do Thou Thyself
defend ** and save me, O my Savior.
Ye haters of Zion * shall be shamed by the Lord; * for like grass, by the fire
** shall ye be withered.
Glory ..., Now & Ever ...,
In the Holy Spirit, * every soul is quickened, * and, through cleansing, is
exalted ** and made radiant by the Triple Unity in a hidden sacred manner.
Prokeimenon Tone IV: Thy good Spirit shall lead me * in the land of
uprightness.
Verse: O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication.
Let every breath ...,
GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN (20:19-23)
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the
doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came
Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And
when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were
the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD. Then said Jesus to them again,
Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when
he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy
Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose
soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Psalm 50, Then:
Glory ..., in Tone VI:
Through the prayers of the Apostles * O Merciful One, ** blot out the
multitude of our transgressions.
Now & ever ..., in Tone VI:
Through the prayers of the Theotokos, * O Merciful One, ** blot out the
multitude of our transgressions.
Have mercy on me, O God, * according to Thy great mercy; * and
according to the multitude of Thy compassions, ** blot out my transgressions.
Festal Sticheron, in Tone VI:
Heavenly King, * Comforter, Spirit of Truth, * Who art everywhere present
* and fillest all things, * Treasury of good gifts * and Giver of life: * come and
abide in us, * and cleanse us of all impurity, ** and save our souls, O Good
One.
 After which: “O God, save Thy people …”, The Canons:
The first Canon, by Cosmos the Monk, in Tone VII:
OD E I
Irmos: He Who quencheth wars with a lofty arm * hath covered over
Pharaoh and his chariots in the sea. * Let us sing unto Him, * for He
hath been glorified.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
As of old Thou didst promise the disciples, O Christ Who didst send the
Spirit Comforter, Thou didst indeed shine forth light upon the world, O Thou
Who lovest mankind.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
That which of old was preached by the Law and the prophets hath been
fulfilled; for today the grace of the divine Spirit hath been poured out upon all
the faithful.
The second Canon, by Kyr John Arclas, in Tone IV:
Irmos: Covered by the divine cloud ...,
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
The pure and revered mouth spake: From you there shall be no separation,
O My friends! For, seated together upon the Father’s most high throne, I will
pour out the Spirit, to enlighten them that desire abundant grace.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., Having reached the end, the Word most true
calmly perfecteth the heart; for having finished His work, Christ gladdened His
friends, giving them the Spirit in a mighty wind with tongues of fire.
Katavasia: Covered by the divine cloud, * he that was slow of tongue
proclaimed the Law written by God; * for having shaken off the impurity
from the eye of his mind, * He beholdeth Him That is, and he is initiated
into the knowledge of the Spirit, * While giving praise with God-inspired
songs.
ODE III
Irmos: Thou didst say unto Thy disciples, O Christ: * Tarry ye in
Jerusalem * till ye be clothed with power from on high, * and I will send
you another Comforter like unto Me, * Who is My Spirit and the Spirit of
the Father, * in Whom ye shall be established.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
 The power of the Divine Spirit coming down divinely joined together into
one, the divided tongues of those who of old had come to a wicked agreement,
thereby imparting unto the faithful the knowledge of the Trinity, in which we
are established.
The second Canon:
Irmos: Only the prayer of the Prophetess ...,
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Incomprehensible is the Supreme Godhead, for it hath shown the illiterate
fishermen to be wise men who with their speech stopped the mouths of the
sophists, and brought out of the deepest night countless peoples, through the
brilliance of the Spirit.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., From Unbegotten Light the All-effecting never-
failing Brightness doth proceed, Who now shineth forth the radiance one in
nature, of the Father’s power, through the Son, unto the nations in the fiery
voice on Zion.
Katavasia: Only the prayer of the Prophetess Anna, * who of old brought
a broken spirit * unto the Mighty One and God of knowledge, * loosed
the fetters of a childless womb * and the unruly rebuke of her with
children.
Sessional Hymn, in Tone VIII:
The ardent followers of the Savior were filled with joy, * and they who were
fearful before obtained boldness, * for today the Holy Spirit descended from on
high upon the house of the disciples, * and each one spake differently to the
people; * for the tongues, in likeness as of fire, were dispersed, yet burned them
not, ** but rather bedewed them.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., the foregoing is repeated
ODE IV
Irmos: When the Prophet perceived Thy coming in the last days, O
Christ, * he cried out: I have heard of Thy might, O Lord, * that Thou
hast come to save all Thine anointed ones.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
He that formerly spake through the prophets, and was foretold in the law
unto the imperfect, the Comforter, the true God, doth become known today
unto the ministers and witnesses of the Word.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
 Bearing the sign of Divinity, the Spirit was distributed in fire upon the
apostles, and was manifested in strange tongues, for the Divine Power coming
from the Father is absolute.
The second Canon:
Irmos: O King of kings, even Thou Who art ...,
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Having by word thrown open the divine laver of regeneration, Thou, O
Word of God, Compound Nature, dost bathe me with streams from Thine
incorrupt, pierced side, sealing with the fervor of the Spirit.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
All things bow their knees unto the Comforter, and unto the Son of the
Father, and unto the Consubstantial Father, for in Three Hypostases they saw
the true Being, inaccessible, timeless, and one; for the grace of the Spirit hath
shone forth light.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., Be ye perfected by the Supreme Godhead, all ye
ministers of the Thrice-radiant Essence; for, beyond nature, Christ as
Benefactor doth work perfection, making light shine unto salvation, providing
all the grace of the Spirit.
Katavasia: O King of kings, even Thou Who art from the Only One, * O
Word, Who comest forth from the only uncaused Father, * Thou, as our
Benefactor, didst unfailingly send * Thy Spirit, Equal in might, unto the
Apostles, who sing: * Glory to Thy power, O Lord.
OD E V
Irmos: The Spirit of salvation, O Lord, * Who was conceived in the loins
of the Prophets because of their fear of Thee * and was brought forth
upon the earth, * doth purify the hearts of the Apostles, * and is renewed
in an upright manner in the faithful; * for Thy commandments are light
and peace.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
This power that came down today is the Good Spirit, the Spirit of the
wisdom of God, the Spirit that proceedeth from the Father, and through the
Son hath appeared unto us the faithful, presented in the holiness of His nature,
unto those in whom He dwelleth, and in whom He is seen.
The second Canon:
Irmos: O ye children of the Church ...,
 Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
As He Himself was well-pleased, of His own accord the unsubordinated
Spirit cometh forth from the Father, making wise with tongues the apostles,
sealing with the impress of the life-bearing Word, being of One Might with the
Father, and One Form, of Whom the Savior spake also.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., That He might heal the minds of sin, the All-ruling
God and Word doth prepare for Himself as a spotless dwelling the apostles, in
whom the light of the Spirit, One in might and essence with Him, doth now
make Its abode.
Katavasia: O ye children of the Church, * whose likeness is like unto
light, * receive ye the fire-breathing dew of the Spirit, * which is a
redeeming purification of offenses; * for now hath the Law gone forth
from Zion, * even the Spirit’s grace, in the form of tongues of fire.
ODE VI
Irmos: Sailing in the tempest of the cares of life, * together with the ship
I have been submerged by sins, * and cast to the soul-corrupting beast, *
wherefore like Jonah I cry to Thee, O Christ: * Lead me up from the
deadly abyss..
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Of Thy Spirit hast Thou abundantly poured out upon all flesh, according as
Thou hast said, O Lord, and all things are filled with Thy knowledge, for Thou,
the Son didst come forth from the Father immutably, and the Spirit indivisibly
proceedeth.
The second Canon:
Irmos: Thou hast shown forth from the Virgin ...,
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Do Thou renew within us, that we may for ever possess the right Spirit that
we long for, Who proceedeth from the Father always invisibly, consuming the
stains of hated matter and cleansing the filth of our minds, O Ruler of all.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., A long-desired dignity dost Thou establish for the
apostles in Zion mindful of Thy coming, O Spirit: the profession of the Word
Begotten of the Father, which swiftly exposed the cruel prattle of the heathens’
babbling.
Katavasia: Thou hast shone forth from the Virgin * as forgiveness and
salvation for us, O Christ Master; * that, like as Jonah was rift from the
belly of the sea monster, * Thou mightest snatch from corruption * all
the fallen race of Adam.
 Kontakion and Ikos of the Feast, in Tone VIII:
Once, when He descended and confounded the tongues, * the Most High
divided the nations; * and when He divided the tongues of fire, * He called all
men into unity; ** and with one accord we glorify the all-holy Spirit.
Ikos: Grant speedy and steadfast consolation unto Thy servants, O Jesus,
when our spirits are become despondent. Depart not from our souls when they
be in afflictions, nor be Thou afar from our minds when they be in tribulations,
but do Thou ever go before us. Draw nigh unto us, draw nigh, O Thou Who art
everywhere present; and even as Thou wast ever with Thine apostles, so also do
Thou unite Thyself to them that long for Thee, O Compassionate One, that,
being one with Thee, we may praise and glorify Thine all-holy Spirit.
SYNAXARION
On this day the eight Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate Holy Pentecost.
Verse: In a mighty wind doth Christ distribute the Divine Spirit.
Verse: In the form of fiery tongues unto the Apostles.
Verse: In one great day, the Spirit was poured forth upon the Fishermen.
We celebrate this Feast of Holy Pentecost today in commemoration of the
coming of the all-holy Spirit into the world, which took place fifty days after the
Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. We have received this
Feast from the Hebrew Bible; for, just as the Hebrews celebrate their own
Pentecost, honoring the number seven, and because they received the Law fifty
days after the Passover, so also do we, celebrating fifty days after Pascha,
receive, instead of the Law, the all-holy Spirit, Who gives us laws, guides us into
all truth, and decrees what is pleasing to God. It should be known that among
the Hebrews there were three great Feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and
Tabernacles. They observed Passover in commemoration of their deliverance
from Egypt and their passage across the Red Sea; for “Pascha,” in the Hebrew
language, means “passage.” This Feast signifies our own passage and return
from the darkness of sin to Paradise. They celebrated Pentecost in
commemoration of the hardships they endured in the desert, where they
received the Law, and of the way in which they were brought through many
afflictions into the Promised Land, for then it was that they enjoyed fruit,
wheat, and wine. It also signifies the hardship that we suffer from unbelief and
our entry into the Church; for then it is that we partake of the Body and Blood
of the Master. The third Feast is that of Tabernacles, celebrated after the
harvesting of fruits, that is, five months after the Feast of Passover. This Feast
was celebrated in memory of the day on which Moses first pitched the
Tabernacle that he saw on Mount Sinai in the cloud and which was constructed
by the architect Beseleel. Fashioning tabernacles themselves, the Hebrews
would celebrate the same Feast: living in the fields and giving thanks to God,
they would reap the fruits of their labors. This Feast is a type of our
resurrection from the dead, when, after our bodily tabernacles have been
dissolved and reconstituted, we will enjoy the fruits of our labors, keeping
festival in the eternal tabernacles. It should be known that on this same day of
Pentecost that we are celebrating, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Disciples.
Since the Holy Fathers decided to divide up the Feast on account of the majesty
of the all-holy and Life-Creating Spirit, because He is One of the Holy and Life-
Originating Trinity, we will speak tomorrow about the Descent of the Holy
Spirit.
By the intercessions of Thy Holy Apostles, O Christ our God,
have mercy on us. Amen.
ODE VII
Irmos: Cast into the fiery furnace, * the venerable children transformed
the fire into dew, * crying aloud thus in hymnody: * Blessed art Thou O
Lord, the God of our fathers!
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
While the apostles proclaimed the great divine things, the unbelievers
considered as drunkenness the working of the Spirit, through Whom the Trinity
becometh known, the One God of our fathers.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
The indivisible Nature do we theologize in Orthodox manner: God the
beginningless Father, the Word and Spirit of the same authority, and we cry: O
God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou.
The second Canon:
Irmos: The harmonious music of the flutes ...,
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Not understanding the prophetic voice, but hearing the apostles speak in
strange tongues, the foolish called it drunkenness caused by wine; whereas we
the pious fittingly call out to Thee: O Renewer of all things, blessed art Thou!
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
The divinely-inspired seer of visions, Joel, thundered forth a divine saying,
as if spoken by the Word of the Supreme Godhead: They on whom I will pour
out my Spirit, shall exclaim together: O Nature, splendid with the Triple
Radiance, blessed art Thou!
 Glory ..., Now & ever ..., At the third hour grace was seen to be well
distributed, that it might indicate the worship of Three Hypostases in a
simplicity of authority, but now we see in that unity on this, the Lord’s day, the
Son, the Father and the blessed Spirit!
Katavasia: The harmonious music of the flutes sounded forth * to honor
the lifeless idol made of gold; * but the light bearing grace of the
Comforter * doth inspire us to cry out in reverence: * Trinity in Unity, *
equal in might and beginningless, * Blessed art Thou!
ODE VIII
Irmos: Unconsumed by fire, the bush on Sinai spake unto Moses, * slow
of speech and stammering, * and revealed God unto him; * and zeal for
God showed forth the three Children who chanted hymns * to be
unvanquished by the fire. * O all ye His works, praise ye the Lord * and
supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
When the quickening mighty breath of the all-holy Spirit came down from
on high upon the fishermen in the form of tongues of fire, they proclaimed the
greatness of God: All ye works, praise ye the Lord, and supremely exalt Him
throughout all ages.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Without dreading the fearful fire and like those treading up the untouchable
mountain, come, let us stand upon Mount Zion, in the city of the living God,
singing in choir together with the Spirit-bearing apostles: All ye works, praise ye
the Lord, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
The second Canon:
Irmos: The type of the Godhead ...,
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
The Spirit coming down in likeness of the tongues of fire, doth impress
upon the memory of the apostles the man-saving doctrine which Christ Who
heard it from the Father, declared unto them. Creation, formerly alienated and
now reconciled, doth praise Thee.
Refrain: We bless Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord.
O Light Self-radiant and the cause of light, being alone self-mastering, unto
salvation hast Thou come filling the apostles, esteemed as the summit by Thy
servants. O that Thou shouldest grant the Spirit in great abundance!
 Now & ever ..., the Spirit-sated mouth of the prophets sang of Thy
sojourning in the flesh, O Sovereign; and the Spirit, brought forth from the
Father’s bosom, Uncreated, Co-Creator and Co-enthroned with Thee, is
revered by those who believe in a singular incarnation.
Verse: We praise, we bless, we worship the Lord, praising and supremely
exalting Him throughout all ages.
Katavasia: The type of the Godhead prefigured in the resplendent three *
loosed the bonds and moistened the flames with dew. * The Children
praise, and all creation that was made doth bless, * the only Savior and
Creator of all, * as their Benefactor.
(The Magnificat is not sung)
ODE IX
Irmos: Conceiving without knowing corruption, * and lending thy flesh
to the Word, * O Mother unwedded and Virgin Theotokos, * thou art the
vessel of the Uncircumscribable One, * and dwelling place of thy
Creator, * thee do we magnify.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Borne in gladness upon a chariot of flaming fire, the fire-breathing zealot of
old typified that radiant breath which now shone forth from above upon the
apostles, and these, illumined, made known the Trinity to all.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Strange things were heard from the disciples, not in accordance with the law
of their nature, for while only one voice spake, by the grace of the Spirit various
peoples, tribes, and nations heard the great things of God, learning the
knowledge of the Trinity.
The second Canon:
Irmos: Rejoice, O Queen boast of virgins ...,
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
It is proper to hymn the Maiden who giveth life; for she alone carried in her
womb the Word that came to heal the diseased nature of man; and Who seated
now on the right hand of the father, hath sent down the grace of the Spirit.
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., Let all of us, on whom the divinely-poured grace
hath breathed, shining, flashing, changed with a strange and most magnificent
transformation, having come to know the Essence equal in might, indivisible,
and wise, and thrice radiant, render glory.
Katavasia: Rejoice, O Queen boast of virgins and of mothers; * for every
eloquent and capable mouth is unable to extol thee worthily, * and every
mind is confounded in seeking to comprehend thy childbirth. *
Wherefore, with one accord thee do we glorify.
Exapostilarion, in Tone III:
O Thou all-holy Spirit, * Who from the Father dost proceed, * and through
the Son hast descended * on the unlettered disciples: * Do Thou now sanctify
and save ** all that acknowledge Thee as God. (Twice)
Glory ..., Now & ever ...,
The Father is Light; the Word is Light; * and the Holy Spirit is Light, * Who
was sent to the Apostles * in the form of fiery tongues; * and thus through Him
all creation ** is illumined and guided to worship the Holy Trinity
On the Praises, these Stichera, in Tone IV:
Verse: To do among them the judgment that is written. * This glory shall
be to all His saints.
Today all the nations beheld strange things in the city of David, * when the
Holy Spirit descended in fiery tongues, * as Luke, the herald of divine things,
declared; * for he said: As the disciples of Christ were gathered together, * there
came a sound as of a mighty wind, * and it filled the house where they were
sitting; * and all began to articulate strange and foreign words, * doctrines
strange and new, ** strange and new teachings of the Holy Trinity.
Verse: Praise ye God in His saints, * praise Him in the firmament of His
power.
Repeat: Today all the nations beheld strange things ...,
Verse: Praise Him for His mighty acts, * praise Him according to the
multitude of His greatness.
The Holy Spirit hath ever been, * and is, and shall be, * neither beginning
nor ending; * but He is ever ranked and numbered together with the Father and
the Son. * He is Life, and life-creating; * Light, and light-bestowing; * by nature
good, and the source of goodness; * through Him the Father is known, and the
Son is glorified; * and thereby all acknowledge a single sovereignty, * single
covenant, ** one adoration of the Holy Trinity.
Verse: Praise Him with the sound of trumpet, * praise Him with the
psaltery and harp.
Repeat: The Holy Spirit hath ever been ...,
Verse: Praise Him with timbrel and dance, * praise him with strings and
flute.
 The Holy Spirit is Light and Life, * and a living, noetic Fountain, * a Spirit
of wisdom, a Spirit of understanding; * a good, an upright, a noetic Spirit, *
presiding in power and purging offenses. * Deity and deifier; * He is Fire,
issuing from Fire, * speaking, working, distributing the gifts; * through Whom
all the Prophets, and the Apostles of God, * and all the Martyrs received their
crowns. * Strange is this report, strange and new this sight, ** a Fire divided
that these gifts may be apportioned.
Verse: Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of
jubilation. * Let every breath praise the Lord.
Repeat: The Holy Spirit is Light and Life ...,
Glory ..., Now & ever ..., in Tone VI:
Heavenly King, * Comforter, Spirit of Truth, * Who art everywhere present
* and fillest all things, * Treasury of good gifts * and Giver of life: * come and
abide in us, * and cleanse us of all impurity, ** and save our souls, O Good
One.
The Great Doxology
Dismissal Troparion of the Feast, in Tone VIII:
Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, * Who hast shown forth the fishermen
as supremely wise, * by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, * and through
them didst draw the world into Thy net. ** O Lover of mankind, glory be to
Thee.
 AT LITURGY
In place of the usual antiphons, we use the festal antiphons:
The First Antiphon (Second Tone)
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God, * and the firmament declareth
the work of His hands.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.
Verse: Day unto day poureth forth speech * and night unto night
proclaimeth knowledge.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.
Verse: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, * and their words unto
the ends of the world.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, * both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.

The Second Antiphon (Second Tone)

Verse: The Lord hear thee in the day of affliction; * the name of the God of
Jacob defend thee.
Refrain: O Good Comforter, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia.
Verse: Let Him send forth unto thee help from His sanctuary, * and out of
Zion let Him help thee.
Refrain: O Good Comforter, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia.
Verse: The Lord grant thee according to thy heart, * and fulfill all thy
purposes.
Refrain: O Good Comforter, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia.
Glory ..., Now & ever ...,
O only-begotten Son and Word of God, * Who art immortal, yet didst deign
for our salvation * to be incarnate of the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin
Mary, * and without change didst become man, * and was crucified, O Christ
God, * trampling down death by death. * Thou Who art one of the Holy
Trinity, ** glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.
 The Third Antiphon
Verse: O Lord, in Thy strength the king shall be glad, and in Thy
salvation shall he rejoice exceedingly.
Troparion, in Tone VIII: Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, * Who hast
shown forth the fishermen as supremely wise, * by sending down upon them
the Holy Spirit, * and through them didst draw the world into Thy net. ** O
Lover of mankind, glory be to Thee.
Verse: The desire of his heart hast Thou granted unto him, and hast not
denied him the requests of his lips.
Choir: Repeat Troparion
Verse: Thou wentest before him with the blessings of goodness, Thou
hast set upon his head a crown of precious stone.
Choir: Repeat Troparion
The entry verse: (Introit)
Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in Thy strength; we will sing and chant of Thy
mighty acts.
And immediately after that, the Troparion and Kontakion of the feast:
Tone VIII: Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, * Who hast shown forth
the fishermen as supremely wise, * by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit,
* and through them didst draw the world into Thy net. ** O Lover of mankind,
glory be to Thee.
Glory ..., Both now..., in Tone VIII:
Once, when He descended and confounded the tongues, * the Most High
divided the nations; * and when He divided the tongues of fire, * He called all
men into unity; ** and with one accord we glorify the all-holy Spirit.
Instead of the Trisagion:
As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.

The Prokeimenon, in Tone VIII: Their sound hath gone forth into all
the earth, * and their words unto the ends of the world.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament
proclaimeth the work of His hands.
 THE ACTS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES: (2:1-11)
At that time: when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting. And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of
them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at
Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this
was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because
that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all
amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which
speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we
were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in
Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and
Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of
Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our
tongues the wonderful works of God.
Alleluia, in Tone I.
Verse: By the Word of the Lord were the heavens established, and all the
might of them by the Spirit of His mouth.
Verse: The Lord looked down from heaven, He beheld all the sons of
men.
GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN (7:37-52; 8:12)
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If
any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as
the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this
spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the
Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Many
of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the
Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of
Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David,
and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division
among the people because of him. And some of them would have taken him;
but no man laid hands on him. Then came the officers to the chief priests and
Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers
answered, Never man spake like this man. Then answered them the Pharisees,
Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on
him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. Nicodemus saith
unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law
judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? They answered
and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee
ariseth no prophet. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of
the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the
light of life.

Instead of “It is truly meet…” we chant the Irmos of the 9th ODE of
the Second Canon of the feast:

Irmos: Rejoice, O Queen boast of virgins and mothers; * for every

eloquent and capable mouth is unable to extol thee worthily, * and every
mind is confounded in seeking to comprehend thy childbirth. **
Wherefore, with one accord thee do we glorify.

Communion Verse: Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of

uprightness. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!