What Is Pentecost?

Pentecost is known as the birthday of the Christian church. Falling 50 days after Easter (and deriving from the Greek word pentēkostē, which means “fiftieth”), it marks the fulfillment of Jesus’s promise to send the Holy Spirit to his followers as a helper and a guide.  

The scriptural account in the Book of Acts tells us the early disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak many languages, so the diverse crowds gathered in the city understood their preaching. It’s the beginning of church as we know it. 

A principal feast in The Episcopal Church, Pentecost is the culmination of Eastertide and leads into the longest season of the liturgical year, which stretches all the way to Advent. It’s one of four holy days set aside for welcoming new members to our community through baptism. 

“Pentecost is a foundational moment in the Christian church,” says the Rev. Jorge Ortiz, priest and associate director,
Community Engagement, “an invitation to open our hearts to the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering us to live out our faith with meaning, purpose, and conviction.”