St George Orthodox Church Memphis

06/02/2026

For many consecutive years, a miracle has occurred at Pentecost at the Church of the Krasnogorsky (“of red hill”) Monastery in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region.

The lilies are kept inside the icon case of the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” icon of Holy Theotokos. Although withered prior to Pentecost, they blossom when Pentecost again arrives, filling the temple with their fragrance. Glory to God!

06/02/2026

06/01/2026

🔸 Monday of the Holy Spirit 🕊️ 🔸

Today, the day following Holy Pentecost, is the Monday of the Holy Spirit. On this day, we honour the Life-Creating, Omnipotent and All-Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, who proceeds eternally from the Father beyond the limits of time. Sharing one essence with the Father and the Son, He is worshipped and glorified together with Them. Just as He descended upon Christ in the form of a dove during His baptism in the Jordan River, so too did the Holy Spirit descend upon the Apostles at Pentecost in the form of fiery tongues, fulfilling Christ’s promise that He would pray the Father to send the Comforter to His disciples (John 14:16).

Filled with the Holy Spirit and having received the gift of speaking in tongues, the Apostles began their mission to preach Christ to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). Thus, on the day of Pentecost, the Church received the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, who continues to preserve and guide her “into all truth” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter because, in His love for mankind, He strengthens us in our weakness, intercedes before God on our behalf (Romans 8:26), and dwells within all who are united to Christ.

In Orthodox iconography, the Holy Spirit is represented by the image of a dove because He appeared in this manner at the baptism of Christ. Yet, just as the Son is not literally a lamb despite appearing symbolically as one in Scripture, so too the Holy Spirit is not a dove by nature. The dove serves as a visible sign of His manifestation to mankind, while His true divine essence remains invisible, uncircumscribed and beyond human comprehension. Prayer to the Holy Spirit: “Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell in us; cleanse us of every stain and save our souls, gracious One.”

05/31/2026

Holy Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has descended from heaven to earth!

05/31/2026

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05/31/2026

It is better for my listener to burn temporarily from the burning sharpness of my rebukes than to burn eternally in the fire of hell.

— Saint John Chrysostomos

05/31/2026

🔸 Sunday of Holy Pentecost 🔥🔸

Today, fifty days after Holy Pascha, we celebrate the Great Feast of Pentecost. This day commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles 50 days after Christ’s Resurrection, completing the revelation of the Holy Trinity. Just as the Hebrews celebrate their own Pentecost (the Feast of Weeks) 50 days after Passover marking the day Moses received the Commandments, so too do we celebrate 50 days after Pascha the day the Apostles received the gift of the Holy Spirit – the living Law of grace written not on stone, but on the hearts of believers.

Before His crucifixion, Christ promised His disciples: “He [the Father] will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17). Before ascending, Christ told them not to leave Jerusalem, saying: “you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5). When the Apostles were gathered on the Feast of Pentecost, a sound came from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, filling the entire house where they were. Then there appeared to them tongues of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in languages they did not know (Acts 2:1-4). Multitudes of pilgrims from many nations who were gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast were amazed to hear their own languages being spoken by the Apostles. Some were perplexed and mocked the Apostles as being drunk. Hearing these accusations, the Apostle Peter proclaimed that this event fulfilled the words of the Prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28).

Peter told the crowd: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38-39). About 3,000 were baptized. Having received the gift of speaking in tongues, the Apostles began their mission to preach Christ to all nations. The day of Pentecost in AD 33 marks the “birthday” of the Church, for on that day she received the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Who guides and preserves her to this day.

05/31/2026

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