Midfeast of Pentecost
Categories: hymns, feast-days
Date: 17 May 2006 06:06:11
Isa dirildi!
[last entry: Jack the Lass' knowledge of Eastern European languages proved correct [what is that last letter called, if you know?]: Chrystus Zmartwychwstał is indeed Polish; response: Prawdziwie Zmartwychwstał!]
Today we celebrate the midpoint of the fifty days between the Feasts of Pascha and Pentecost: the Midfeast of Pentecost.
St John tells us, in the reading for today (John 7:14-30), that about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. This Feast is the Feast of Tabernacles (which is celebrated in September), not Pentecost: but the Orthodox Church has appointed this reading for the Midfeast, thereby linking Pascha and Pentecost: and the icon for this feast portrays Christ as a boy teaching.
The Troparion for today:
In the middle of the Feast, O Saviour,
fill my thirsting soul with the waters of godliness,
as You did cry to all:
If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink. [cf John 7:37]
O Christ God, Fountain of our life, glory to You!
hints at the encounter of Christ and the Samaritan Woman which we will celebrate this Sunday.