The Orthodox faithful in Greece mark the Monday of the Holy Spirit, a public holiday, especially for schools and public sector employees.
The day after Pentecost Sunday is specifically dedicated to honoring the Holy Spirit as a distinct person of the Holy Trinity. The celebration in the Greek Orthodox Church is deeply imbued with spiritual and theological significance.
It commemorates the foundational event where the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Most Holy Trinity, descended upon the Apostles. Manifesting as fiery tongues, the Spirit touched each disciple, imbuing them with divine wisdom, unparalleled power, and the miraculous ability to speak and understand all languages.
This profound spiritual outpouring marked the official inauguration of the apostolic mission and the dynamic expansion of the Christian faith throughout the world.
In some regions of Greece, such as Aitoloakarnania, Magnesia, and Epirus, Pentecost Monday is enriched by unique local customs. These often include the pious offering of specially prepared bread or the arrangement of “spiritual tables”, communal meals or offerings typically held within church courtyards or monastery grounds, reflecting the enduring spiritual and communal dimensions of the feast.
Pentecost (Sunday of Holy Pentecost) is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church. It is celebrated fifty days after Pascha and ten days after the Feast of the Ascension of Christ.
Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles in the form of fiery tongues, as described in the Book of Acts. This event empowered them to preach the Gospel in various languages and is considered the “birthday of the Church.”
It also celebrates the full revelation of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
While Orthodox Christians do not consider it the absolute “birthday” of the Church (as they see the Church as having existed before creation), it marks a pivotal moment in the Church’s establishment and mission.
Churches are often decorated with greenery and flowers, symbolizing renewal. Special hymns like “O Heavenly King” (calling the Holy Spirit) are sung for the first time since Easter. An extraordinary service called “Kneeling Prayer” is observed on the night of Pentecost, where the faithful make full prostrations.
While Pentecost Sunday is the main celebration of the Holy Spirit’s descent and the establishment of the Church, the Monday of the Holy Spirit serves as a direct continuation and emphasis on the person of the Holy Spirit within the Trinity.
