(Fifty days after Pascha – The Descent of the Holy Spirit)
Pentecost Sunday, also known as the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, is one of the Great Feasts of the liturgical year in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). Celebrated on the fiftieth day after Pascha (Easter), it commemorates the moment when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in the Upper Room, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1–11). This event marks the birth of the Church and the beginning of the Apostolic mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.
The feast emphasizes the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, who fills the Church with divine life, unity, and courage. On this day, the Church celebrates the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to send the Comforter, who continues to guide and sanctify the faithful.
A special feature of the Pentecost celebration in the UGCC is the Kneeling Prayers (Molitvy na kolinakh) offered at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. This marks the first time the faithful kneel since the joyful celebration of Pascha, symbolizing humility and invoking the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit.
Green vestments and decorations are used to symbolize new life, renewal, and the flourishing of the Church. Pentecost also begins the Post-Pentecost period in the liturgical year—a time for living out the mission of the Church in the power of the Spirit.
This feast invites all believers to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit, embracing His gifts and renewing their commitment to the life and mission of the Church.
