Pentecost

The Descent of the Holy Spirit The Spirit comes to the community and through the community. The Spirit creates in us the bond of love which establishes the Church. Mary, the Mother of the Church, holds her hands in prayer and leads the apostles in prayer. Many of the apostles are confused and perhaps even frightened by the descent of the Holy Spirit. But Mary is calm, prayerful and open, and her conduct comforts them and reminds them of her Son. She reminds them - and us - to pray. There is an old man in the centre of the icon. Surrounded by Mary and the apostles, he symbolizes the world. He is there to remind us that we do not pray for ourselves alone, but for the entire world. The Holy Spirit descends on the apostles, and on us in Chrismation (Confirmation), so that we can carry the Spirit into the world. Our prayer helps to transform not only ourselves, but also our friends, our neighbours, our world. M. Tataryn. ‘How to Pray Icons’, Gracewing 1997 Icons from Ukrainian Church, Rome.