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PENTECOST
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On this day we celebrate one of the most important feast days of the Christian Church - THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH. The word PENTECOST is a Greek word meaning fiftieth (50).
Just before Jesus Christ ascended into heaven on the fortieth day after His Crucifixion and Resurrection, he promised his disciples that very soon the power of the Holy Spirit would be with them to give them
spiritual strength to carry the message of Christ throughout the world.
On the fiftieth day a miracle happened. Great tongues of fire were seen over each head of the disciples...it was the Power of the Holy Spirit and they began to speak many different languages and they were "filled with the Holy Spirit." The disciples traveled to the corners of the earth to bring the message
of Jesus Christ to all men. At the end of the Divine Liturgy on this day, the service of kneeling is
performed. (The whole congregation kneels throughout most of the service).
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FEBRUARY 2
FEAST DAY OF THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD AT THE TEMPLE
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February 2nd is 40 days after the birth of Jesus Christ. The Virgin Mary brought the Christ to the Temple for Presentation, it was common Jewish practice to bring all newborn children to the Temple and offer them to the service of the Lord.
This Jewish tradition of presenting children to the Temple is still practiced in the ORTHODOX CHURCH. In fact your parents too presented you to the Church on the 40th day after birth. In the Orthodox Faith we call this presentation "being churched".
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Provided for you Courtesy of: The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Bridgeport
Rev. Demetrios A. Recachinas, Protopresbyter
Web Version Designed by:
Vicky Andriotis
For information about obtaining hard copies of this booklet, please contact:
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
4070 Park Avenue
Bridgeport CT 06604
Church Phone (203) 374-5561
Church Fax (203) 374-5770
E-mail: fatherdemetrios@ holytrinitybridgeport.org
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