Pentecost: Difference between revisions

'''Pentecost''' ({{lang-grc|Πεντηκοστή}} {{polytonic|[ἡμέρα]}}, ''Pentēkostē [hēmera]'', "the Fiftieth [day]") is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the [[Law_given_to_Moses_at_Sinai|Law on Sinai]], and also later in the [[Christian]] [[liturgical year]] commemorating the descent of the [[Holy Spirit]] upon the [[Disciple (Christianity)|disciples]] of Christ after the [[Resurrection of Jesus]].<ref>In the Eastern churches, Pentecost can also refer to the fifty days between Easter and Pentecost, hence the book containing the liturgical texts for Paschaltide is called the Pentecostarion.</ref> The feast is also called '''Whit Sunday''', '''Whitsun''', or '''Whit''', especially in the [[United Kingdom]], where [[Whit Monday|the following Monday]] was traditionally a holiday. Pentecost is celebrated seven weeks (50 days) after [[Easter]] Sunday, hence its name.<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia, [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15614b.htm Pentecost (Whitsunday)]</ref> Pentecost falls on the tenth day after [[Ascension Thursday]].

 

 

The [[Pentecostal]] movement of Christianity derives its name from the New Testament event.