Pentecost reminds us that Christians are not
autonomous individuals, but rather persons participating in the body of
Christ, and ultimately, in the community of the Trinity.
"Therefore if somebody should say to one of us, “You have received
the Holy Spirit, why do you not speak in tongues?” his reply should be,
“I do indeed speak in the tongues of all men, because I belong to the
body of Christ, that is, the Church, and she speaks all languages. What
else did the presence of the Holy Spirit indicate at Pentecost, except
that God’s Church was to speak in the language of every people?” "
--An exposition of Ecclesiastes by St Gregory of Agrigentum
http://universalis.com/20140607/readings.htm
The Central Role of the Church in God’s Work in the World
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/what-is-pentecost-why-does-it-matter/
On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on individual followers of
Jesus as they were gathered together in Jerusalem. This gathering became
the first Christian church. New believers in Jesus were baptized as
they joined this church. They, along with the first followers of Jesus,
shared life together, focusing on teaching, fellowship, breaking of
bread, and prayer. They shared their belongings so that no one was
hungry or needy. As these first Christians lived out their new faith
together, “the Lord added to their number those who were being saved”
(Acts 2:47). Thus we speak of Pentecost as the birthday of the church.
In theory, the Spirit could have been poured out on the followers of
Jesus when they were not gathered together. There are surely times when
the Holy Spirit touches an individual who is alone in prayer,
worship, or ministry to others. But the fact that the Spirit was given
to a gathering of believers is not incidental. It underscores the
centrality of the church in God’s work in the world. The actions of the
earliest Christians put all of this in boldface. The Holy Spirit is
not only given to individuals, but also, in a sense to the gathered
people of God. Thus, in 1 Corinthians 3, the Apostle Paul observes that
the church is God’s temple and that the Spirit dwells in the midst of
the church (3:16-17; in 1 Cor 6:19-20 we find a complementary emphasis
on the dwelling of the Spirit in individual Christians).
Personal Implications: Many Christians, especially those of
us who have been influenced by the individualism of American culture,
live as if the church is useful but unnecessary. We seem to believe
that as long as we have a personal relationship with God, everything
else is secondary. But Pentecost is a vivid illustration of the truth
that is found throughout Scripture: the community of God’s people is
central to God’s work in the world. Thus, Pentecost invites us to
consider our own participation in the fellowship, worship, and mission
of the church. It is a time to renew our commitment to live as an
essential member of the body of Christ, using our gifts to build the
church and share the love and justice of Christ with the world.
Pentecost Icon, Kirillo-Belozersk Monastery (c.1497)
The Icon for the feast of Pentecost is also called the
Descent of the Holy Spirit, as it is a depiction of the event described in the Book of Acts (
Acts 2:1-4)
when the Holy Spirit descended as tongues of fire upon the Apostles
gathered together and enabled them to preach in different languages.
However, the Feast of Pentecost is not only the commemoration of an
historical event, but a celebration of a present reality: the presence
of the Holy Spirit in the Church. Likewise, the Icon for Pentecost is
much more than the depiction of a past event.
St Peter (left) and St Paul (right)
The presence of the Apostle Paul in the icon, even though at that
time he had not yet converted on the road to Damascus, hints that this
icon is more than a purely historical picture. Sometimes, the
evangelists Luke and Mark are also shown, despite also not having been
present in the upper chamber at Pentecost. The gathering, then, is a
representation of the Church. The Apostles are seated in a semi-circle,
representing a unity and harmony similar to that found in
Icons of the Holy Trinity.
As in icons of the Holy Trinity, a semi-circle, rather than a full
circle, is used so that we as observers are drawn into the unity.
Descent of the Holy Spirit
The source of their unity is in another semi-circle at the top of the
icon, showing the descent of the Holy Spirit. From the blue semi-circle
(c.a.
mandorlas)
a single ray of light for each of those gathered shines down to
illumine them. Sometimes the “tongues of fire” described in Acts are
shown at the tips of the rays, ready to descend upon the Apostles. Other
times, the tongues of fire are shown already within the halos of each
of the seated Saints. Some icons of Pentecost show a dove, either within
the mandorla at the top of the icon, or even descending upon those
gathered in the upper chamber. Given the appearance of the Holy Spirit
as a dove during
Christ’s Baptism,
it is understandable that this physical image of the Spirit is also
used in Pentecost icons. However, the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of
flame at Pentecost, and a dove at Christ’s Baptism, being – in reality –
neither of these things. Therefore it is inappropriate to depict the
Holy Spirit as a dove at Pentecost, or indeed in any icon except those
for the Theophany feast.
The Cosmos, holding the promise of Apostolic teaching
At the bottom of the Icon is another semi-circle, showing an old king
against a dark background. He is often named as Kosmos and represents
the world. He is crowned as a symbol of earthly authority – i.e. he
represents all the peoples of the world, rather than the whole of
creation. He is sat “in darkness and the shadow of death” (Luke 1:79),
and is aged to show the corruptibility of the world. Yet he also holds a
blanket containing scrolls representing Apostolic teaching (compare
with the scrolls held by the Apostles in the Icon itself and “
the meaning of objects held by saints in icons“).
Though in darkness, the descent of the Holy Spirit has not only reached
the Apostles, but also all corners of the world into which the Apostles
will preach the Gospel.
The Empty Seat A striking
aspect of the Pentecost Icon is the empty space at the centre, between
the Apostles Peter and Paul. This central seat is a place of honour, the
“Teacher’s Seat” around which the Apostles are gathered. Why is it
empty? Because it is the seat Christ should be sitting in, Who has
ascended physically into Heaven. Yet Jesus promised many times that
though He would leave them physically, He would instead give to them the
Holy Spirit as a comforter, advocate, and guide. This promise was first
realized at Pentecost, and is still true today. Therefore, the Icon,
which is also an Icon of the Church, shows the Apostles gathered in
unity, sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit, surrounding Christ Who
is invisibly present. The world, Cosmos, is at their feet, ready and
waiting to be harvested through the passing on of Christ’s teaching.
Pentecost Icon with Mary at the centre (17th Century)
Some icons of Pentecost show Mary the Mother of God in the centre,
occupying the “Teacher’s Seat”. Surviving icons of this sort are usually
western (the above comes from the border between Finland and Russia).
Mary was present at Pentecost, though as already mentioned, the icon is
not primarily a historical snapshot of the event. The Theotokos’
presence in the centre is not problematic though, as she is the ultimate
exemplar of a Christian. With Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, the
Holy Spirit acts within people, and through the Saints Christ is
manifested in the world. Mary is therefore shown in the “teacher’s seat”
as the best example we have, and the person on earth who most resembled
Jesus Christ (both physically, as His mother, and spiritually as His
disciple). Nevertheless, the “empty” seat is a more widespread and, I
believe, more impressive image of both Pentecost and the Church.
The
Apostles are seated as equals, with no individual among them taking the
central seat of authority. They don’t need to. Their unity as the Body
of Christ is sustained through the real “Vicar of Christ”: the Holy
Spirit.
+++
Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who
made fisherman all-wise, by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and
through them, drawing all the world into Your net. O Loving One, glory
be to You. (Apolytikion for Pentecost)
More About the Feast of Pentecost>>
No comments:
Post a Comment